CHAPTER 9What reasons would people have

had for moving out west?

What dangers would they face?

Do you think it would be worth it?

MANIFEST DESTINY Term was coined

by John O'Sullivan in a newspaper article

He encouraged annexing Texas

Believed Manifest Destiny would happen without force, the US government or the military

MANIFEST DESTINY

Thomas Jefferson added Louisiana Purchase in 1803

After the War of 1812, settlers went in limited number

1840’s there was a huge wave of westward expansion

Used “Manifest Destiny”- US’s destiny to expand to Pacific Ocean and Mexican Territory

REASONS FOR GOING Panic of 1837 Abundance of land Merchants sought new markets

FARMING THE NEW LANDS Early settlers= squatters: settled land they

didn't own. Government wanted to go through real

estate companies, but squatters didn't. Preemption Act of 1830 (made permenant

in 1840) allowed squatters to claim unsurveyed land and buy up to 160 for $1.25 per acre.

INVENTIONS! 1834 Cyrus

McCormick patented a mechanical reaper—harvest more grain.

1837 John Deere engineered a steel-edged plow—reducing labor.

THE DONNER PARTY

IMPACT ON NATIVES Some traded horses, information, and food for

guns and clothing Some assimilated Some were forced to move Some fought against the settlers

FORT LARAMIE TREATY Numbers of displaced Natives fought with

settlers (Black Hawk War) In response, US gov’t met with Cheyenne,

Arapaho, Sioux, Crow and others 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie gave Natives

control of Central Plains Natives promised not to attack settlers and US

would honor boundaries Settler movement increased—trampled land

and hunted elk and buffalo

EXPANSION INTO TEXAS

A PRELUDE TO WARWhy would Mexico be willing to

have US settlers in their territories?

OPENING TEXAS Mexican gov’t was far from where the

settlements in Texas were. Made it hard to settle because of

natives. (Apache and Comanche) Mexican settlers refused to live there, so

Mexico invited US settlers. Also wanted closer economic ties to US

EMPRESARIOS AND SETTLERS Some settlers came to Texas on their

own. National Colonization Act—Mexico gave

land grants to empresarios who had to entice settlers.

Stephen Austin first and most successful empresario.

RISING TENSIONS US settlers had to accept Mexican

citizenship and become Catholic. Mexico assumed this would make US

settlers see Mexico as their own country. Mexicans distrusted the settlers

because of their American lifestyle.

RISING TENSIONS CONT’D 1826 Benjamin Edwards led rebellion

against Mexico. Disagreement over whether Mexican

gov’t or empresarios controlled the region.

He declared US settlements in Texas made up independent nation of Fredonia..

Stephen Austin helped Mexico crush rebellion.

MEXICAN REACTION Rebellion had few followers, but it fueled

Mexican gov’t’s fear. Mexico closed borders and banned

import of enslaved labor. Also put taxes on goods imported from

foreign countries.

SETTLER REACTION & WAR!

Settlers angry because settlements couldn’t grow without immigration.

Also import tax meant higher prices for goods. Finally, settlers didn’t feel Mexican gov’t was their own—didn’t

like them telling them what to do. Stephen Austin sent to negotiate with Mexican leaders but talks

are going nowhere Austin sends a letter back to San Antonio to secret encourage

leaders to start organizing a separate Texas government, but it’s intercepted.

Austin put in prison and President Santa Anna makes himself a dictator

Texas begins fighting for its independence The Alamo & Goliad Final big battle at San Jacinto

Santa Anna is captured and Texas wins independence from Mexico The Republic of Texas elects Sam Houston as its first president and votes to be

annexed by the United States Not everyone wants Texas, however….President Jackson signs a resolution

recognizing Texas as an independent country.

WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN TO FULFILL THE AMERICAN IDEAL OF MANIFEST DESTINY?

THE WAR WITH MEXICO

From Sea to Shining Sea

THE PROBLEM WITH TEXAS

Texas has a large population of Southerners

Tyler tries to get Texas annexed by using a pro-slavery letter from Calhoun, but fails

His pro-slavery appearance prevents his reelection

ELECTION OF 1844 James K. Polk wins the electionDemocrat

His supporters declare “Fifty-Four Forty or Fight”Get all of Oregon or go to war with Britain

Polk had no intention of war, he agrees to take up to the 49 degree north latitude

TEXAS AND CALIFORNIA

Polk argues with Mexico over its boundaries

Sends John Slidell to buy California

Polk sends troops to take what he thinks is TexasGen. Zachary Taylor

War with Mexico! See map on p. 310

BEAR FLAG REPUBLIC John C. Fremont started fighting in Ca. before war was even declaredBear Flag Republic- Independent Ca.Annexed by U.S.

Winfield Scott marches on Mexico City, wins warTreaty of Guadalupe Hildago

TREATY OF GUADALUPE HIDALGO Manifest Destiny comes true U.S. Stretches from Coast to CoastOregon, California, Utah, Nevada

U.S. pays 15 million, and 3.25 million in debts

Issue of slavery?????