1. Manifest Destiny

2. Manifest Destiny
The idea that it is God’s will for the United States to expand from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

3. Election of 1844 James K. Polk elected President (Dem.)
Support U.S. ownership of Oregon Country
Also wanted Mexico Territory for U.S.

4. TEXAS
December 29, 1845 Texas officially became a state of the U.S.

5. War with Mexico Offered to purchase territory from Mexico twice
Mexico declined
Polk thought it was “rightfully” property of U.S. regardless

6. May 11, 1846 Polk Declared war on Mexico Polk’s 3-Step War Plan
Drive Mex. Forces out of disputed Texas border region.
Seize New Mexico and California Territories.
Take over Mexico City (Capitol)

7. Peace Treaty
February 1848 – Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo = Mexico agreed on Rio Grande as Texas border.
Mexican Cession – Mex. Gave U.S. California and New Mexico for $15 million.

8. Gadsden Purchase
1853– U.S. paid Mex. $10 Million for strip of land south of New Mex.

9. California Gold Rush January 24, 1848 – Gold discovered in California
80,000 people fled to Cal. In 1849
“forty-niners”
Boomtowns popped up “overnight”

10. Most miners found little or no gold; only handful became rich
Merchants, shop owners, got rich because they could charge whatever they wanted for needed supplies.