1. What is Manifest Destiny?

2. Manifest Destiny: is the and to from
RIGHT
Manifest Destiny: is the and to from
DUTY
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Coast to Coast

4. Trails West Santa Fe Trail Oregon Trail California Trail
Settlers eventually began traveling in long wagon trains along these trails

5. Oregon US & GB: shared control in 1818
Between the 1820s-1840s, trappers, missionaries, and settlers traveled on the Oregon Trail to the Oregon Territory
By the mid-1840s, many Americans campaigned to own Oregon outright rather than share it with GB
54-40 or fight!
Treaty in 1846 extended US boundary along 49th parallel
US controls land below 49th, GB controls land above.

6. Texas
Mexico won independence from Spain in 1821…cheap land became available for settlement…Americans encouraged to settle in Texas
Between 1821 and the 1840s the Anglo (white settler) population in Texas surpassed the population of Tejanos (Mexican settlers)

7. Stephen Austin
Was given permission from Mexico to establish a colony…the main settlement was named San Felipe de Austin
By 1825, land grants had been issued to almost 300 families to settle in the colony
Settlers of this colony from America had many cultural differences that caused tensions between them and their Mexican neighbors:
Protestant vs. Catholic
English vs. Spanish
Slavery vs. abolition

8. Leading to Revolution Differences between Anglo and Mexicans in Texas
Instability in Mexican politics
Austin was imprisoned in 1833 for “inciting a revolution” after he presented petitions to Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana asking for greater self-governance for Texas
Santa Ana’s government imposed higher taxes, attempted to outlaw slavery, and disarmed local militia groups
Local government powers were suspended in Texas, and when Austin returned to Texas in 1835, he called on Texans to arm themselves as Santa Ana marched his army toward San Antonio

9. Declaring Independence
On March 2, 1836 Texans declared their independence from Mexico and formally established the Republic of Texas
Santa Ana sent troops to put down the rebellion
A few days after declaring independence, 183 Texas rebels were killed by Santa Ana’s army at the Alamo
“Remember the Alamo” became the battle cry of the Texas Revolution

10. The Republic of Texas
In April 1836 forces led by Sam Houston won a major battle at San Jacinto
Santa Ana was captured and forced to sign a treaty recognizing Texas’ independence
By October, the independent government was in place with Sam Houston as president.

11. Annexation
Initially, requests by Texan leaders to join the US were denied
Might lead to war with Mexico
Northerners objected to adding another slave state
James Polk campaigned in favor of westward expansion, won the election of 1844, and congress voted to annex Texas in 1845
Texas becomes 28th state and 15th slave state

12. Effects of the Annexation of Texas
Increased tensions between the US and Mexico
California began verbalizing its desire to also become a state…further irritated Mexico
US and Mexico could not agree on where the Texas border should be

13. Leading to War
President Polk sent troops under General Zachary Taylor to the disputed land with Mexico
To Mexico, troops were an army of occupation and a violation of Mexican sovereignty
Fighting breaks out between US troops and Mexican army
Congress declares war on Mexico in May 1846