1. Texas
Independence
( )

2. Texas Declaration of Independence

3. Key Figures in Texas Independence, 1836
Sam Houston ( )
Steven Austin ( )

4. The Republic of Texas

5. Remember the Alamo!

6. Davey Crockett’s Last Stand

7. General Antonio Lpez de Santa Anna Recaptures the Alamo
The Battle of the Alamo
General Antonio Lpez de Santa Anna Recaptures the Alamo

8. Overland Immigration to the West
Between 1840 and 1860, more than 250,000 people made the trek westward.

9. The Oregon Trail – Albert Bierstadt, 1869

10. Trails Westward

11. The Doomed Donner Party
April, 1846 – April, 1847

12. The Doomed Donner Party
CANNIBALISM ! !
Margaret Patrick John Breen Breen Breen
Of the 83 members of the Donner Party, only 45 survived to get to California!
James Reed & Wife

13. WAR WITH MEXICO

14. Political Issues
Texas already possessed a large population of southerners – and a significant pop. of slaves --- admitted as slave state
Antislavery leaders opposed to annexation
Mexico never recognized Texas as independent --- considered to be a part of Mexico

15. Texas & Oregon Enter Union
A. Tyler & Senate Tyler had led a publicity campaign favoring annexation – brought issue before senate – included in his argument Calhoun letter -- Senate did not approve --- annexation
B. Election of 1844
Democratic Nominees – Henry Clay, Martin Van Buren, James K. Polk --- supported annexation of Texas & Oregon and buying California
Polk Wins the Election of 1844

16. C. Oregon & Polk – his campaign slogan – 54/40 or fight ---- strong stance on Oregon
Privately Polk agreed to Split the Oregon territory w/ England
Received all of Oregon south of the 49th parallel

17. The Oregon Dispute: 54’ 40º or Fight!
By the mid-1840s, “Oregon Fever” was spurred on by the promise of free land.
The joint British-U. S. occupation ended in 1846.

18. D. Annexation of Texas
Outgoing President Tyler pushed through an annexation bill in succeeded because of simple majority rather than 2/3rds vote –
Mexico broke off diplomatic relations
US & Mexico quarrel over southwestern border of Texas – Nueces River vs Rio Grande

19. Slidell Rejection --- Polk sends a representative John Slidell to buy the state of Texas --- Herrera new President of Mexico --- refused to meet with Slidell
This ended any chance at negotiation

20. The Slidell Mission: Nov., 1845
Mexican recognition of the Rio Grande River as the TX-US border.
US would forgive American citizens’ claims against the Mexican govt.
US would purchase the New Mexico area for $5,000,000.
US would California at any price.
John Slidell

21. War with Mexico
Polk orders US soldiers under Zachary Taylor to cross the Nueces River – (an invasion of Mexico in the eyes of the Mexican Gov’t)
Polk wanted Mexicans to fire first –
5/9/46 – Polk addresses congress and states that Mexico has attacked US Soldiers --- “American Blood has been shed on American Soil” – asks congress for declaration of War
Lincoln Questions the President – Spot Resolution

22. May 13 1846 – S (40-2) H ( 174 -14) in favor of war
STRATEGY
1. Taylor’s Force would continue south, crossing the Rio Grande near the Gulf of Mexico
2. Separate Force would march west – capturing Santa Fe and then moving on to California
US Forces would advance on Mexico City

23. Stephen Kearney
1846 ordered to march from Leavenworth, Kansas to Santa Fe, NM --- onto California
New Mexico fell without a shot
In California – man named John C. Fremont led Americans in a revolt and declared California a free country in June called the Bear Flag Republic

24. Zachary Taylor & Company
American Invasion of Mexico lasted – 1year
Generals – Zachary Taylor (Old Rough ad Ready) and Winfield Scott ---(Old Fuss and Feathers)
Captains – Robert E. Lee & Ulysses S. Grant
Matamores
Monterrey
Buena Vista
Vera Cruz – amphibious assault – 200 ships and 10,000 men in less than 5 hours
On to Mexico City – captures Mexico City September 14, 1847 covering 260 miles and not losing a single battle
**Scott had replaced Taylor as general because he would be a potential presidential candidate threat

25. General Zachary Taylor at Alto Palo
“Old Rough and Ready”

26. Bombardment of Vera Cruz

27. General Scott Enters Mexico City
“Old Fuss and Feathers”

28. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Mexico ceded 500,000 square miles of land to US – New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Arizona
Agreed to Rio Grande as the border for Texas
In exchange
US Paid 15 million and agreed to take over 3.25 million dollars in dept owed by Mexico to US citizens

29. Election of 1848 Polk was in poor health – decided not to run
Democrat Lewis Cass vs Whig Zachary Taylor ( Martin Van Buren – Free Soil Party)