Chapter 9.1Manifest Destiny

Spanish America New Mexico settled in 1598

Oldest Spanish Colony in Northwest

1765 only 9,400 lived in New Mexico Santa Fe and El Paso Farmers and Ranchers Fear of Pueblo Indians kept population low

Natives Pueblo Populations were declining

due to disease Less than 10,000 by 1765

Apaches were becoming very powerful Warring tribe

• Acquired horses from Spanish• Guns From French

1800- Lakota and Comanche Indians moved into the plains and pushed the Apache into New Mexico

Apaches raided settlements and stole livestock

Spain paid Navajo and Comanche’s to attack the Apache

California By 1821 New Mexico had a population of

40,000. Texas was Stagnant, but the Coast of

California was being settled by missions. Like Texas they had problems attracting

settlers Junipero Serra was a Franciscan Priest who

worked at converting the local Natives

California Continued… This task was easier because these

populations did not have horses or guns.

By 1821 when Spanish rule ended there were 20 missions in California As well as Los Angeles and San Jose

18,000 natives had been converted

Mexican Independence 1821 the Mexican Revolution

America recognized Mexico and an independent republic.

Manifest Destiny American’s wanted the land that

Mexico held…. California, Texas, and New Mexico All were rich with resources

American’s justified this desire because they felt that

• Mexican’s were inferior• Their government and economy was too weak

John O’Sullivan a journalist wrote that:

“The American claim is by the right of our manifest destiny to overspread and possess the whole of the continent which Providence has given us for the development of the experiment of liberty and …. Self-government entrusted to us.” (1845)

What Does This Mean? Basically it means that American’s

had the God given right to own all of the lands from east to west in North America.

This was going to greatly limit the freedom of the Natives and Mexicans in these areas.

Santa Fe Trail Mexican Independence spurred

trade with Americans and the Santa Fe Trail was created.

Mountain Men Men who crossed the Rockies in

search of Beaver and other furs…. Known as trappers.

California Trail was created by these men who worked their way to the Pacific coast.

Oregon Trail Turned North West at the South Pass and

headed to “Oregon Country”.

Missionaries Marcus and Narcissa Whitman went to Oregon and opened a Mission.

Stopping point for those heading to the Willamette Valley

….. They were murdered by Natives in

1847 who blamed them for the measles epidemic that had decimated the population.

John C Fremont 1842- Led a government

expedition to the West. Did not discover

anything new Gave romantic reports

that spurred migration west.

Wagon Trains In the Spring thousands would leave

Springfield, Illinois. Trip was 2,000 miles Traveled in Trains of 10 to 100 wagons

• 50-1,000 people

                             Georgia and Eliza Donner with Mary Brunner in about 1850

Donner Party Left in 1846 heading west

33 people• Mostly women and children• Going to California• Took the wrong pass

• Became snowbound in the Sierra Nevada's• Resorted to Cannibalism • 7 people survived

• 2 men and 5 women

Mormons

Joseph Smith founder was murdered in Illinois in 1844. Brigham Young organized an exodus in

1847 • Traveled across the great plains to Salt

Lake • 1860- 40,000 Mormons live in Salt Lake

Treaty of Ft. Laramie Native were forced to stay away

from major trails. In place to protect settlers Natives still clung to nomadic life styles Conflicts continued.