AN AGE OF EXPANSIONISMChapter 13

Borderlands of the 1830s

• Americans begin settling in– Oregon territory (joint U.S., English claim)– New Mexico territory (owned by Mexico) – California (owned by Mexico)

• “Manifest Destiny” becomes a slogan of those believing the U.S. divinely ordained to encompass Mexico and Canada (John O’ Sullivan 1845)

Question to ponder!!!

Who has more claim to a piece of land-an absentee owner or a person who takes care of

it?

The Texas Revolution

• 1820s: Americans encouraged to move into Texas but they never fully accepted Mexican rules (slavery and Catholicism)

• 1835: Armed rebellion breaks and Texans declare independence

• 1836 Mexican forces defeated and forced to sign a treaty recognizing Texas

• Jackson refuses to annex Texas

Questions to think about!!!

• Have any of you moved to a new community, switched schools, or experienced a major

change in your lives? • How could it be positive or negative?

Trails of Trade and Settlement1830’s-1840’s

• Several trade routes are created to get into western territories – Santa Fe Trail closed to U.S. because Texas– Oregon Trail for settlers to the Oregon country– Mormon trail (Mormons settle in Utah b/c of religious persecution)

• Oregon settlers demand an end to joint U.S.-British occupation

The Liberty Party Swings the Election of 1844

James K. Polk-Democratic(18-1849)

Domestic Policy • Polk runs on expansionist

platform• Texas annexed by joint

resolution shortly before Polk inaugurated

• Wilmont Proviso • Manifest Destiny ultimately

limited by racism and slavery question

Foreign Policy• “54’ 40” or fight”

– 1846 Polk tells British that joint occupation no longer acceptable

– England prepares for war but decides to compromise with division of Oregon along 49o parallel

• 1846 Mexican-American War• 1848 U.S. wins war/Treaty of

Guadalupe Hidalgo – Rio Grande becomes southern

border– New Mexico, California ceded

to U.S.– U.S. pays Mexico $15 million

Internal Expansionism and Migration• “Young Americans” link

territorial growth to other material achievements– Technological innovation—e.g.

telegraph– Transportation improvements– Growth of trade– Mass immigration

• Discovery of California gold (1849) inspires transcontinental projects

• Railroads begin displacing canals

• Mass production, the division of labor makes production more efficient– Factory system emerges– Farms become mechanized

Immigration to the United States, 1820–1860

End Questions

• What problems might come about from poor European immigrants coming into the United States?

• What problems might come about from the Industrialization of the United States?