texas and the war with mexico!! (did you know we went to war with mexico??)
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Texas and the War with Mexico!!
(Did you know we went to war with Mexico??)
1835-1848 – Americans Head West
The Concept of Manifest Destiny – idea that God had given the continent to Americans and wanted them to settle the western land..
A. Farming these new lands..1. Early pioneers were known as
“squatters” – because they settled on land they didn’t own.
Fed. Government intended to survey the land and sell parcels off to real estate companies – these squatters wanted to buy the land directly FROM the government.
3. Congress passed preemption Act of 1830 protecting squatters and allowing them to buy land for 1.25 an acre.
B. Plows and Reapers..1. John Deere engineered a plow with
sharp steel blades – reduced labor by half – Cyrus McCormick created the mechanical reaper – for centuries farmers cut grain by HAND.
C. The Trails West1. Much of the terrain to the Pacific was
very difficult to cross – Kit Carson and Jim Bridger made their living by hunting - gained knowledge of the territory and local native Americans.
2. By 1840’s mountain men had carved out east to west passages - most popular was the Oregon Trail.
D. Wagon Train Life..1. Made the journey by covered wagon
– before starting out, trains assembled at staging areas outside - families exchanged information about routes, brought supplies and oxen and practiced steering wagons.
2. First wagon trains hired mountain men to guide them – after a while most travelers known as overlanders found their own way
3. Didn’t always go well – most famous was a group of 86 overlanders known as the Donner Party after the 2 brothers who led them became trapped by snow high in the Sierra Nevada.
4. After 41 died of starvation – the remaining had to make a choice – starve to death or eat their dead..
5. Trip takes 5-6 months – traveled about 15 miles a day
6. Native Americans were getting nervous…increasing flow of settlers would disrupt their way of life – federal govt negotiated the Treaty of Fort Laramie – 8 Indian groups agreed to specific geographic boundaries – promised these groups that the land would be theirs forever ..
E. The Mormon Migration1. In 1844, a mob murdered Joseph
Smith – the Church’s new leader, Brigham Young took his people west to escape further persecution.
2. Mormons forged their way along the path known as the Mormon Trail – valuable route into the west – in 1847, the Mormons stopped at the Great Salt Lake - declared there they world build a new settlement
Texas and the War with Mexico!!
(Did you know we went to war with Mexico??)
During 300 years of Spanish rule of Mexico, only a few thousand Mexican settlers had migrated to the landscape of what is now TX.
I. Americans Settle in the Southwest A. Mission System: 1. Before Mexico won its
independence, Spain’s system of Catholic missions in CA, NM and TX tried to convert Native Americans to Catholicism and to settle them on mission lands.
2. Mission systems declined after Mexico won its independence from Spain.
a. New Mexican govt. offered surrounding lands to govt. officials and ranchers.
b. Mexicans even captured Native Americans for forced labor.
B. Impact of Mexican Independence. 1. Trade prospered between our
govt. and Mexico.
2. Mexico loosed their ties with there northern provinces of present day NM, CA, TX, AZ, NV and UT.
C. Mexico invites U.S. settlers on their land: 1. To prevent skirmishes between Natives
and the Mexicans, the Mexican govt. encouraged American farmers into Texas.
2. Mexico offered enormous land grants to land agents called empersarios.
3. Americans bought land from empresarios in exchange to follow Catholic religion
a. Until the 1830’s American settlers in TX were considered naturalized Mexican citizens!
D. Austin in Texas 1. Stephen Austin, most successful
emprasarioes established huge land grants to American citizens.
2. Word about Texas spread through the U.S.
a. Led to increased discussion of extending U.S. boundaries to Rio Grande river.
b. Pres. Jackson and Polk offered to buy TX for millions.
c. Mexico flat out refuses and was regretting inviting the “Anglos’ in …
II. Texas Fights for IndependenceA. “Come To Texas” 1. Mexico sealed its borders and put
heavy taxes on importation of American goods.
a. Mexico lacked troops to enforce the borders.
b. Anglo population ends up doubling. 2. Austin Travels to Mexico City to present
petitions for self-government for Texas to President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.
a. Santa Anna had Austin imprisoned.
B. Remember the Alamo!!!1. Determined to force Texas to obey
his laws, Santa Anna marched toward San Antonio with 4,000 troops.
2. Austin armed his own troops as well.3. Drove Mexican forces from the
Alamo – an abandoned mission and fort the Spaniards had built.
4. Santa Anna retaliated and stormed the fort and killed all 187 U.S. defenders.
C. Texas joins the Union1. Led by Sam Houston, defeated Santa
Ana. a. Texans declared independence
from Mexico b. admitted Texas into the union. c. Infuriated the Mexican government
towards…..
I. The War with Mexico!! A. President Polk wants war with
Mexico.However, he needs to convince
congress to do this…hmmmm.. 1. Orders Gen. Zach Taylor to march
to the Rio Grande and blockade the river.
2. Mexico responded by sending troops across the river – 9 U.S. soldiers were killed.
What does Polk do???
3. Sends message to Congress “American blood shed on American soil!!!”
More than 1 or 2 Reps. thought he was lying…including Abe Lincoln.
4. Lincoln introduced a “Spot Resolution” – asking Polk to actually point out where this skirmish had occurred.
B. War with Mexico:5. American invasion lasted about a year. a. many young men made names for
themselves: Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee fought
side by side.
2. Meanwhile, Polk hatched a bizarre scheme…
3. If Polk helped Santa Anna sneak back to Mexico, Santa Anna would in turn end the war. – both agreed.
4. Returned to Mexico, resumed his presidency, retook command of the army, and ordered an attack on the U.S.
5. U.S. wins the war..
II. California Gold Rush!!A. Impact of “Gold Fever” 1. San Francisco became the capital of
the gold rush. a. 1,000 people in 1848 – 35,000 2
years later. 2. People went for the sheer adventure. B. Gold Rush Brings Diversity: 1. Chinese were largest group to come
from overseas.Free blacks by the hundreds and the
wealthiest African Americans in the country were in CA
C. CA’s application for statehood proved even more protest in Congress – why?
1. One more sore point between Northerners and Southerners each intent on winning the issue on slavery.
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