manifest destiny

Belief that it was inevitable and ordained by God that the U.S. would expand to the Pacific Ocean

Oregon Who Went?

o Looking for good cheap land

o New Start because of economic problems

How they got thereo Wagonso Walked

Utah Who went?

o Mormons• Escape Religious

Persecution

How they got thereo Wagonso Handcartso Walked

Texaso Mexican Independence 1821o Encouraged Americans to settle

• $.12 acre• Wanted flow of manufactured goods• Help protect area from Indian attacks

o Stephen F. Austin• Given land grant to establish colony• “No drunkards, gamblers, profane swearers or idlers would

be allowed.”

Causeso Mexican politics unstableo Cultural differences• Catholic vs. Protestant• Spanish vs. English• Slavery Abolished 1821 vs. Southern

Slave Owners

Santa Anao Imprisoned Austin for inciting Revolutiono Suspended local government in Texaso 1835 Austin returned

• War was only option

o Mexican troops sent to enforce Mexican law The Alamo- Feb. 23, 1836

o Spanish Mission used as Forto Believed Controlling Fort would stop Mexicanso Texans trapped and slaughtered

Sam Houstono Commander of Texan troops

• Surprise attack on Mexican troops• Killed 630 Mexicans in 18 minutes• “Remember the Alamo”• Captured Santa Ana• Made him sign Treaty of Velasco

• Independence for Texas

Republic of Texas- 1836o Houston elected President

James K. Polk- 11th Presidento 1845 annexed Texaso Believed War could add CA and NM

Border Warso Texans

• Border was the Rio Grandeo Mexicans

• Border was Nuecos River 150m. NE of Rio Grandeo Polk tried secret negotiations to buy CA and fix

border dispute• Mexicans wouldn’t even talk• J.C. Fremont led military exploration into CA• Mexicans entered disputed territory• Polk asked for War, Congress Approved

New Mexico 1846o Mexican troops joined U.S. troopso No shots fired

California 1846o Settlers seized Sonomao Declared Independenceo Joined by NM troopso Mexican troops gave in quickly

Mexico 1847o Generals Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott

• One year of fighting• Mexicans conceded defeat

Provisionso Rio Grande border o $15 million for CA and NMo 1853 Gadsen Purchase

• $10 million for southern RR route• Current Borders of US created

Sutters Mill Jan. 24, 1848o Gold foundo By 1849 population over 100,000

• From U.S. and Worldo San Francisco became supply center for world markets