More Chapter 13 Notes

Railroads- Early Improvements

Early 1800s- development in England spreads to U.S.

Early trains powered by wind, horses

1830- The Tom Thumb runs at 18 m.p.h.!!

Railroads- Early Improvements

Despite early fears of speed, fire, explosion, trains quickly replace canals as the fastest mode of transportation

Railroads- Early Improvements

Every town wanted a railroadSome towns even moved or died

depending on the route of the railroad“Zig-Zag” routes- towns paid the

railroad to come to their town instead of the straightest route

Transcontinental Railroad

As America spread westward, a railroad to the west coast was desperately needed, wanted

The issue of which route to take was complicated by North vs. South tensions

Wherever the eastern terminus was would benefit- $$$ and power

Transcontinental Railroad After southern secession, Pacific Railway

Act in 1862 provided federal $$ to build railroad from California to Omaha

Transcontinental Railroad

A great race was begun- railroads were paid by the mile built

Central Pacific built East from Sacramento

Union Pacific built West from Omaha

I’ve Been Workin’ on the Railroad

Thousands of workers needed for the manual labor of laying ties, rails

Chinese and Irish Immigrants used for work ethic, cheap pay

I’ve Been Workin’ on the Railroad

Rough and rowdy crews- “Hell on Wheels”

Built up to 10 miles per day

Dangerous work- many injuries, deaths

I’ve Been Workin’ on the Railroad May 10, 1869- Golden spike driven to complete

the Transcontinental RR at Promontory Point, Utah

Effects on Westward Expansion

Railroads brought to/from the West:– People, including many immigrants– Goods– Money– Transportation– Sold land for settlement– Made the “Wild” West much more

accessible to the average person

Texas Revolution- Spanish Texas

Spain controlled TexasThere were actually more Native

Americans and Americans than Spanish living there

To attract more settlers Spain gave a land grant to Moses Austin to start a colony

Texas Revolution- Mexican Independence Changes Texas 1821- Mexico gains

independence from Spain

Mexico gave permission to Stephen F. Austin, Moses’s son to continue colony

By 1830 over 30,000 people lived in Texas- mostly American settlers

Texas Revolution- Mexican Independence Changes Texas Tensions between Americans and Mexicans:

– Language– Slavery– Taxes– Mexico closed Texas to American immigration

Texas vs. Mexico- Remember the Alamo!Austin goes to

Mexico city to try to work out their differences

Meets w/ President General Santa Anna

Santa Anna refuses Austin’s requests, jails him for a year

Texas vs. Mexico- Remember the Alamo!Armed rebellion

breaks out in 1835

Texans appoint Sam Houston as leader of Texas Army

Texas vs. Mexico- Remember the Alamo! Feb. 1836 1,800 Mexicans

surround 183 Texans inside the Alamo- an old mission building

William Travis, Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett

Texans held off attack for 12 days before being overrun

Texas Independence Battle of San

Jacinto- Texans strike back and do a sneak attack on the Mexican Army

Santa Anna is forced to sign a treaty giving Texas its independence

Texas was an independent nation for 10 years!

War with Mexico- Troubles

Mexico still claimed part of Texas-dispute over where the border was

President James K. Polk offers to buy CA, TX, and NM for $25 million but is refused

Troubles with Mexico

General Zachary Taylor leads U.S. troops to the border and is attacked by Mexicans

Congress, urged on by Polk, declares war on Mexico in 1846

Capturing NM, CA

General Stephen Kearny leads troops west on the Santa Fe Trail and peacefully takes over NM

In CA, a group of rebels leads the Bear Flag Revolt and declares CA independent

The Invasion of Mexico

War lasted from 1846-1848Americans led by Generals Zachary

Taylor and Winfield ScottGeneral Santa Anna led 15,000 soldier

Mexican ArmyAmericans won major battles at Buena

Vista and Mexico CityMany future Civil War generals got

their first military experience there

The Mexican Cession

War officially ends with Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Mexico agrees Texas is part of U.S. Mexico gives U.S. CA, NV, UT, AZ, CO, WY U.S. pays Mexico $15 Million Promised to protect Mexicans living in

Cession areas Gadsden Purchase- U.S. buys one more

strip of land in Southern AZ and NM for $10 Million