the paths west history of the american west. daily question the population of the united states west...
TRANSCRIPT
The Paths West
History of the American West
Daily Question
The population of the United States west of the Appalachians was less than 100,000 in 1790.
What was the population west of the Appalachians in 1820?
Take 3 guesses on a ¼ sheet of paper. 7,000,000
Introduction
Settlement was the key to American conquest of the continent.
Everyone was craving land. By 1840, 8 states formed west of the
Appalachians 3 west of the Mississippi
What paved the way for settlers to move West?
Lt. Zebulon Pike
Claim to fame? Pike’s Peak
Explored the southern reaches of the LA Territory/Rocky Mtns. (1806)
Strayed into Spanish Territory Came home with description of Spanish
Territory & of interior plains.
Stephen H. Long
Stepped across the plains in 1820. Unfit for cultivation Uninhabitable for people depending on
agriculture. “Great American Desert”
William Becknell
Trading expedition 1821-22 Returned home with Mexican silver. Escorted to Santa Fe, NM Sold goods to the Mexicans Generated interest with the governor.
The Result…
Santa Fe Trail Summer, 1822 Becknell blazes a route Started in _______________. Ended in ________________. Huge trading route ($145,000/yr.)
Items Exported to New Mexico
Tools Household utensils Fabric Latest fashions (American & European) Wallpaper Glass
The Medium of Exchange
Mexican silver Mules were also traded to the
Americans. Missouri started mule production from this
point.
Many American goods became in hot demand in Mexico.
Oregon
“the most valuable of all the unoccupied parts of the earth.”
Spain, Russia, Britain had interest Too sparsely populated to fight over. US & Britain joint occupation for 10 yrs. Religious motivations.
The Oregon Trail
Started in Independence, MO 2,000 miles Problems
Mountains Cold, swift streams No spare parts Right pulling animal Mosquitoes
Why not the plains?
Land assigned to Indians Treeless Great Plains—a “desert” Desire for greater resources
Assignment
Look at p. 187-188 in your book. Give a step-by-step account of the
journey along the Oregon Trail.
The Journey to Texas
Tejanos-native-born Mexicans Interested in money, horses, women Pike opened trade with them Rancheros
Longhorn cattle-by Spanish Foundation of economy Dress
The Journey to Texas
Filibusters Land pirates Defeated San Antonio Other invasions reduced the population in
half.
The Journey to Texas
Moses Austin Applied for a land grant in Texas.
300 families Approved in 1821
Died on the way home.
The Journey to Texas
Stephen F. Austin Claimed Texas as his bride
Settlers Given 177 acres of farmland or 4428 acres for grazing
Flourishing goods Cattle Cotton Exported to US
The Journey to Texas
900 additional families Empresarios-development for land Texans soon outnumbered Tejanos Slavery
Banned by Mexico “Contract Labor”
The Journey to Texas
Colonization Law (1830) Canceled all empresario contracts Banned immigration from US Occupation of Texas by Mexican Army
Texas Fever Cattle was fatter, sugar cane was taller and
the cotton was finer… GTT-”Gone to Texas”
The Journey to Texas
Factions Peace Party (Austin)
Self-rule as a Mexican Colony Legalized slavery Free trade w/US
Texian War Party Annexation w/US
Toward Texas Independence
Austin Thrown in Jail Became a believer in independence
New leaders David Crockett Samuel Houston
Violence in Texas
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna Declared national control of local affairs Dictatorship Texans forced Mexican troops from San
Antonio Fortified themselves in the Alamo Mexicans invade the Alamo 3/6/1836. 5 hrs., 600 Mexican & 187 Texans died.
The Journey to Texas
Santa Anna Attacked Goliad-executed 371 Anglos Divided army to burn and plunder
Houston surprised Mexicans at San Jacinto River (4/21).
Captured and forced to sign a Treaty granting Texas independence.
The Republic of Texas
Houton-president Tejano prejudice & violence
“White folks and Mexicans were never made to live together, anyhow.”
Recognized as an independent country by the U.S. in 1837
Legalized Slavery-barred legal residence of “free persons of color.”
Manifest Destiny
John L. O’Sullivan We were destined by God to expand
across the continent James K. Polk
Expansionist platform Annex Oregon & Texas Divided Oregon at 49th parallel 1845-Texas-28th state
Mexican-American War
Santa Anna Annexation of TX would be “equivalent to a
declaration of war.”
Polk wanted to take California Sent Maj. Gen. Zachary Taylor into
Mexican Territory Mexico attacked Congress declared war on May 13, 1846
Mexican-American War
Guerilla fighting 3 Fronts
Northern Mexico New Mexico California
Irregular settler forces
Mexican-American War
1847-Invasion of Mexico City First amphibious operation in US military
history Landed at Vera Cruz Marched across same land as Cortes Mexicans attacked then used guerilla
maneuvers. American attacked civilians
Mexican-American War
Americans conquered Mexico City (9/14/1847)
Public Opinion Mostly outrage First American war covered by the
telegraph.
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Confirmed annexation of Texas Rio Grande-international boundary Reparations
Mexico ceded California and New Mexico US paid $15 million US gave American citizens $3.75 million
for land they claimed.
Results of the War
13,000 Americans killed 20,000 Mexicans Cost the US $2.3 billion in today’s dollars. Mexico lost 602 million acres (1/3 of
domain) Male citizens of Mexico could choose
citizenship in either country. Eventually driven out
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1840
1850
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Manifest Destiny
Expansion to the Pacific Seen as obvious and inevitable Not necessarily a religious idea Spread of democracy and European-
American lifestyle Exterminate or convert Native Americans Tame the western landscape
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Manifest Destiny
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What do you think the woman in this picture represents?
• What is she doing?
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What are these people doing, and why do you think they are in the picture?
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What does this part of the picture show? What is its significance?
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Who else is being forced westward? What is happening here?
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Why do you think this bear was included in this part of the picture?
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Can you tell what is going on here?
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Why do you think the artist painted this picture?
What is the larger message he was trying to convey about Manifest Destiny?