An Age of Expansion

Young AmericansThe new young men of America – mid 1800’sStood for industrial growthExpansionWanted Texas, Oregon and Mexican TerritoriesMostly young Democrats

OregonArea between Rockies and Pacific OceanUnited States and England both claimed this areaAmerican northern border became 49th parallel (later northern border of Washington State)

MexicoGained independence from Spain 1821Republic of Mexico (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah and much of Colorado)Mexico opened lands to immigrationMust be Catholic /non-slave

TexasStephen F. AustinAttracted others to settle in TexasWithin a year =2,021Friction developed between Mexican government and settlersMany in Texas refused to free their slavesSoon Mexico stopped further immigration

Texans were also upset that they were not allowed self governmentAustin went to Mexico to speak with commanderBan on immigration liftedAustin was arrested and jailed

Texas Independence1835 Texans revoltedSanta Anna sent troops to put down the revolutionAlamo, Goliad, etc Sam Houston defeated Santa Anna at San Jacinto RiverIndependence March 2, 1836

MormonsReligious sect founded in AmericaJoseph Smith was the founder- published the Book of the MormonsEstablished communities in Ohio and Missouri – 1837Persecuted

Brigham Young – 1,500 – established a colony near the Great Salt LakePolygamy practiced (more than one spouse)Later the United States would try and get rid of the Mormons by forceLater the 2 sides agreed on peace and Mormons accepted US authority

Manifest Destiny

American belief that God was on the side of their expansionLeaders in America wanted all lands west and as much north and south as they could get

Fifty-four forty or Fight

Americans were willing to go to war over the Oregon Territory 1845-1846United States and England avoided warPresident Polk let Congress decide on the agreement (boundary)

War With MexicoUnited States annexed TexasMexico and United States at odds over boundaryGeneral Zachary Taylor was sent to Rio GrandeApril 24 Mexican army crossed the riverWar – with MexicoAmericans marched deep into Mexico (Mexico City)

Ended WarAdded 500,000 square miles to the size of America20% largerCalifornia, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, and Arizona and parts of Colorado

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Railroads1840’s trains reached speeds of 20-30 mphVery unsafeUsed to transport people and suppliesRailroad boom – across AmericaLink American cities and coast to coastEnormous boost to American economySteele industry growth

Industrial Revolution

Eli Whitney – Cotton GinMade the production of cotton less expensive and more profitable (effect on slaves?)

Cyrus McCormick – reaper – cut six acres of grain a day

Elias Howe – sewing machine (effect?)

Bessemer process – removed impurities from steel

Edwin Drake – First oil well

John Deer – Steel Plow

Samuel Morse – Telegraph – intercontinental cable

Charles Goodyear – rubber

George Pullman – Pullman Car (effect?)

Gold Rush

Gold discovered in California. Causes mass movement of people to California

Immigration1820’s –1840’s – 700,000 immigrantsMainly from Great Britain and Germany1840’s –1860’s – 4.2 millionMost from Ireland – potato famine

Poor, disease ridded, catholicMost to the cities to fill needed factory jobsTenements and ghettosMany Germans went into western areas – less prejudice

New Working ClassMost minorities ended in factories, mines and construction camps, and railroadsFactory workers – low wages and owners large profitsWorking class was no longer the artisans and factories were no longer the province of women and children