1. The Really Old West and the Mexican War

2. The Relentless Hunger for Land Land Pressure –1800: 5.3 million, 50% west of Appalachians –1850: 23 million, 50% west of Appalachians –Available land triples 1800-50

3. Manifest Destiny Many White Americans convince themselves God has given them the DUTY to take over North America because they're better than everyone else and He loves them better than everyone else. –This is a classic case of rationalizing greed and land hunger to feel less guilty about killing people and taking their land

4. The East There is not much open land in the east by the 1840s As a result, the need for land drives farmers ever westwards.

6. Why not settle the Great Plains? Hard to farm in Full of powerful native tribes Border disputes with Spain Lack of geographic knowledge

7. The Fur Trade Hudson Bay Company and Missouri Expeditions begin it Rendezvous System (1824-1840) –Trappers operate on their own or small groups 40% marry Native Americans –Trappers meet traders 1/year at a week long trade festival

8. Fur Trade II Trappers map out the West By 1840, fur animals are dying out and the trade fades

9. The Oregon Trail

10. Prairie Schooner

11. The Oregon Trail –150,000 settlers, 2000 miles, 6 months Missionaries go first in 1830s –They discover Oregon is great for farms! Farmers follow them in the 1840s Dangers –1 in 17 died, most from cholera, drowning, accidents

12. Independence Rock Over 50,000 names carved in it; a mile long

14. Native Americans of the Plains Horse Nomads rule the plains –Hunt Buffalo / Raid Farmers / Trade with Neighbors Aided by the Gun and Horse, they dominate everyone else! –North: Sioux –South: Commanche

16. The Sioux

17. Natives vs. Natives Nomads crush groups like –Farming Tribes: Pawnee –Indian Territory Tribes: Cherokee & Other Southern Tribes Too strong for the US to want to challenge before Civil War

18. Spanish / Mexican Cowboys (Vaqueros)

19. The Mexican Borderlands Northern Half of Mexico had under 1% of its population Mostly controlled by tribes hostile to Spain, then Mexico Mix of –Creoles (Spanish Descent) –Mestizos (Mixed Origins) –Native Descent Folk

20. The Borderlands II The borderlands were thinly garrisoned and poor Relied on ranching and irrigation agriculture Under 60,000 loyal to Spain, then Mexico South California Central Texas New Mexico

22. Texas: Early Years In 1820, 5,000 mostly Mestizo Tejanos Mexico invites the Empresarios to settle Texas –Land grants to those who bring settlers –18,000 square miles to Stephen F. Austin! 1830: 25,000 in Texas! –But constant Commanche raids too!

23. Problems in Mexico Mexico is torn by conflict –Conservative Creole Landowners vs Mestizo Urban Liberals Santa Anna exploits this to take over in 1830s

24. Santa Anna President of Mexico 11 times (non-consecutive) Loses part of Mexico 3 times Somehow keeps coming back anyway!

25. Crackdown on Texas Santa Anna tries to disarm the settlers –They are violating Mexican laws against slavery Settlers refuse for fear of the Commanche and of tyranny Battle of Goliad (October 1835) leads to WAR.

26. The Texas Revolution

27. Revolution March 1, 1836: Independence Battle of the Alamo delays SA's revenge He is then crushed at Battle of San Jacinto (April 1836)

28. Anglo Encroachments Mexico now clearly vulnerable –American merchants move into New Mexico via The Santa Fe Trail and begin taking over. –Farmers from Oregon move into Northern California and settle. –Mormons invade Utah and take over Grasshoppers are the only defense against them! (They eat Mormon crops)

29. James K. Polk Elected in 1844 Pledges to take: Texas California

30. Twin Crises: Texas and Oregon We split Oregon with the British Polk's demands anger the Mexicans, who feel robbed when we annex Texas in 1845 Polk and Mexico both send troops into South Texas.

31. Confrontation in South Texas 3,500 under Zachary Taylor into South Texas Siege of Fort Texas (Brownsville) Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma (May 8-9) –Horse artillery wins the day –Huge victory

32. The US at the Verge of the Mexican War

33. Improved American Competence in Warfare Lessons of the War of 1812 West Point—523 officers serve; 452 decorated or promoted Improved Logistics Volunteer Forces – 111,000 men Government Finance-- Over 100 million Overcoming Political Opposition

35. 1846 Taylor invades Northern Mexico –Fall of Matamoros and Monterrey Fall of the Borderlands –New Mexico—Phil Kearney –California John C. Fremont and “Bear Flag Republic” Commodore Stockton Battles of Rio San Gabriel and the Battle of La Mesa on January 8 and 9, 1847

37. 1847 Santa Anna Strikes North –February 23, 1847—Battle of Buena Vista Braxton Bragg (Artillery) and Jefferson Davis (Infantry)

38. The Battle for Central Mexico

39. The Invasion of Central Mexico Winfield Scott's 10,000 invade Mexico –Veracruz –Battle of Chapultepec (September 13, 1847) –Fall of Mexico City –But now what?

40. 1848 Occupation of Mexico City Mexican Instability Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo –US pays 18 million –US gets New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Texas, and California

41. The US Post-Mexican War