THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES 1492-1877

LECTURE 8THE ROAD TO THE CIVIL WAR

THE WESTWARD EXPANSION

• Although the Westward expansion resulted in the greatest territorial growth, there were preceding events

• 1763 Proclamation, preventing the establishment of settlements across the Appalachian Mountains

• 1803 Louisiana Purchase

THE WESTWARD EXPANSION

• Mass migration of people 1820’s-1848• Ideology: Manifest Destiny• 1845 John L. Sullivan:• “Our manifest destiny is to overspread the

continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions”

MANIFEST DESTINY

REASONS FOR MOVING WEST

• Spreading Christianity• Promoting democracy• Need for land• Need for harbors for trade with the Far East

(San Francisco, Seattle)• “Go west young man!” individual

opportunities

CONFLICT WITH INDIANS

• Thomas Jefferson in Declaration of Independence: Merciless savages

• Andrew Jackson: obstacles to civilization• 1830 Indian Removal Act• 1838 Trail of Tears 15,000 Cherokees depart,

9.000 arrive to west of the Mississippi• Causes of the defeat of Indians:• Lack of unity• Repeating rifle, colt, eliminating the buffalo

THE TRAIL OF TEARS

CONFLICT WITH THE BRITISH• Settlement at the Oregon Territory• Oregon territory was controlled by 4 countries

England, Spain, Russia, and U.S.• Spain and Russia gave up claim as of 1818: Joint

Occupation• 1840’s Oregon trail• mass migration from St. Louis or Independence

Missouri to west, • St. Louis to Rockies, Fort Bridger, go northwest

Oregon, go south: Texas Trail

CONFLICT WITH THE BRITISH

• 1841: Oregon Fever 2,000 mile trek• Prairie Schooners, Conestoga wagons, ox drawn,

canvas covered wagons, • Crucial role for women: holding the family

together• By 1845 Americans outnumber British• Americans demand Oregon, “54.40 or fight!”• 1846 British give up claim• 1848: Westward expansion reaches its goal

GOING WEST

CONFLICT WITH MEXICO

• 1809 Mexico becomes independent from Spain• Controls the Texas Territory• Stephen Austin leads Americans settling in Texas• Cultural conflict with Mexicans • Cause: religion, Settlers are Protestants and have

slaves• Mexicans: Catholics, reject slavery• Mexico prohibits further American settlement

CONFLICT WITH MEXICO

• 1835 30,000 Americans live in Texas, outnumbering Mexicans

• Illegal American immigration to Mexico• 1832-33 Americans organize conventions to

demand representation and greater political power

• 1834 General Santa Anna becomes dictator, • 1836 Texans rebel, declare their independence

BATTLE OF THE ALAMO

• February 23 1836 • William B. Travis colonel, commander of the

fort• James Bowie, Davy Crockett, • Heroic defense, but Alamo falls 188 Americans

and Texans defend against 4,000 Mexicans outcome: defeat, but “Remember the Alamo!”

THE SIEGE OF THE ALAMO

CONFLICT WITH MEXICO

• 1836: Texas becomes independent country The Lone Star Republic

• President Sam Huston, slavery is allowed• Texas applies for annexation, but 1845 Texas is

annexed• 1846-1848• Mexican-American War• President: James K. Polk expansionist president• Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo 1848

LANDING AT VERA CRUZ

CONFLICT WITH MEXICO

• Texas Territory (California, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas) is ceded by Mexico

• Significance of the war:• First aggressive war• Professional army• Manifest destiny is reality, Pacific Ocean is

reached

SLAVERY AS A MORAL CRISIS• Abolition movement• Frederick Douglass 1845: Narrative of the Life of Frederick

Douglass, an American Slave• 1831 William Lloyd Garrison The Liberator• 1831 Nat Turner rebellion• White abolitionists: reject gradual emancipation• Garrison: “I will be as harsh as truth, and as

uncompromising as justice. On this subject I do not wish to think, to speak, or write with moderation”

• Underground Railroad, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman• Uncle Tom’s Cabin 1851 Harriet Beecher Stowe Slavery is

morally bankrupt, Evil institution

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

SLAVERY AS A POLITICAL CRISIS• Popular sovereignty• Compromise of 1850• Fugitive Slave Act slaves can be returned to the

South• California enters the Union• Bleeding Kansas 1854-56• Federal govt. wants to extend railroad• Vote on slavery• Territory is divided• Prelude to the Civil War

BLEEDING KANSAS

RISE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY

• 1854 Establishment of the Republican Party• Against slavery only in the new territories in the

West, not in the South!• But Southerners feel threat• Election of 1860• Four candidates• John Bell, John Breckinridge, Stephen Douglas,

Abraham Lincoln• Lincoln’s election scares the South

SLAVERY AS A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS

• 1857 Dread Scott v. Sanford• Can a free state give freedom to a former

slave?• Answer: no, outlawing the Missouri

Compromise• By 1860: Country is at the gate of collapse