1. Moving West, Manifest Destiny, and the Mexican American War
Unit 6: The Road to the Civil War

2. Focusing Points…
Why did Americans start moving west? What motivated them?
How did we acquire the land west of the Louisiana Purchase?
What issue kept coming up as new states were admitted into the union and how did we “fix” it?

3. America Moves West
Americans believe it is their destiny to move into the western frontier.
This idea was known as Manifest Destiny

4. Manifest Destiny
“The fulfillment of our Manifest Destiny is to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions”

5. Western Expansion leads to a Major Problem…
Once states were being established and entered into the Union, a major question emerges…
Will the state be entered as a slave state or free state state???

6. The Missouri Compromise
Created by Henry Clay in 1820
It established that slavery was prohibited in all new states north of the 36 30’ N latitude line

9. Mexico and Texas Mexico controlled most land in the Southwest
Mexico invited many Americans into Texas to farm and cultivate the land
Most Americans were led by Stephen F. Austin who founded the city of Austin in hopes of economic prosperity

10. The Texas Revolution
Tensions between Mexico and Texas rose because of disagreements about Mexican government and slavery
Texans rebelled and declared their independence

11. The Republic of Texas
Americans famously fought against the Mexicans at the Alamo where after 12 days of fighting the Americans lost
Santa Anna slaughtered hundreds
The slogan “Remember the Alamo” inspired Americans to keep fighting
Led by Sam Houston, Texas eventually defeated Mexico and gained their independence in 1836

12. The Alamo

13. The Mexican-American War
In 1845, the US wanted to annex Texas
Northerners did not support annexation because they did not want to add another slave state
President James K. Polk promised that if Texas was added as a slave state, Oregon would be free
Polk saw this as an opportunity to gain more land for the US and move west

14. The Mexican American War
Once the US annexed Texas, Mexico protests and the US declared war
American forces led by Zachary Taylor, Winfield Scott, Robert E. Lee, William T. Sherman, and Ulysses S. Grant lead the US to a sweeping victory

15. Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago ended the Mexican-American War
U.S. received New Mexico and California. U.S. paid $15million for Arizona, Nevada and Utah.

17. SCHLEEP Wilmot Proviso
Proposed that slavery should be banned in any territory gained from the Mexican-American War
South’s Reaction:
SCHLEEP

18. Compromise of 1850
In order to figure out the new territory, Henry Clay creates the Compromise of 1850
It said:
End of the slave trade in Washington DC
California will be entered as a free state
Fugitive Slave Law- Stricter fugitive slave law which requires Northerners to help capture and return runaway slaves.

19. Show-Me-Time! Take out a sheet of paper…
Americans believed that they were destined to move west. What was this known as?
What did the Missouri Compromise establish?
How did we acquire land that extends to the Pacific?
What was the main issue when debating when a new state would enter the Union? How did we handle this problem? (Hint: Henry Clay)