Westward Westward ExpansionExpansion

1820-18601820-1860

In the span of five years, the United States increased its size by a third. It annexed Texas in 1845; negotiated with Britain for half of the Oregon country; and acquired California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming as a result of a war with Mexico.

In the span of five years, the United States increased its size by a third. It annexed Texas in 1845; negotiated with Britain for half of the Oregon country; and acquired California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming as a result of a war with Mexico.

Oregon Oregon CountryCountry Settlers and trappers Settlers and trappers

were attracted to were attracted to Oregon and the Far Oregon and the Far West because of the West because of the fertile farmland and mild fertile farmland and mild climateclimate

In the early 1800’s, the In the early 1800’s, the U.S., Great Britain, Spain U.S., Great Britain, Spain and Russia all claimed and Russia all claimed the Oregon Territory.the Oregon Territory.

No one thought about No one thought about Indian rights!Indian rights!

Mountain MenMountain Men The first people to move west were The first people to move west were

fur trappers (Mountain men)fur trappers (Mountain men) They didn’t settle but lived lives of They didn’t settle but lived lives of

danger and survival (danger and survival (rugged rugged individualistsindividualists))

Trapped in the fall and spring then Trapped in the fall and spring then partied and bartered in the summer partied and bartered in the summer at at rendezvousrendezvous..

Jedediah SmithJedediah Smith

"I wanted to be the first to view a country on which the eyes of a white man had never gazed and to follow the course of rivers that run through a new land."

Smith proved himself a leader quickly on the trail. On Smith proved himself a leader quickly on the trail. On his second expedition, he was attacked by a grizzly his second expedition, he was attacked by a grizzly bear. The bear came out of the thicket and mauled bear. The bear came out of the thicket and mauled Smith violently, throwing him to the ground, Smith violently, throwing him to the ground, smashing his ribs and literally ripping off his scalp. smashing his ribs and literally ripping off his scalp. When the attack was over, the scalp was hanging When the attack was over, the scalp was hanging on to his head by an ear. Smith instructed his on to his head by an ear. Smith instructed his companion, Jim Clyman, to sew it back on. Clyman companion, Jim Clyman, to sew it back on. Clyman did the best he could, but thought nothing could be did the best he could, but thought nothing could be done for the severed ear. Smith insisted that he try. done for the severed ear. Smith insisted that he try. According to Clyman, "I put my needle sticking it According to Clyman, "I put my needle sticking it through and through and over and over laying the through and through and over and over laying the lacerated parts together as nice as I could with my lacerated parts together as nice as I could with my hands." hands."

John ColterJohn Colter

Was credited as being the first white Was credited as being the first white man to view Yellowstone National Parkman to view Yellowstone National Park

                                                                                                                     

While trapping beaver he and a partner were While trapping beaver he and a partner were attacked by Blackfeet Indians. The attackers attacked by Blackfeet Indians. The attackers swarmed on Colter, stripping him naked and swarmed on Colter, stripping him naked and taking all his possessions. They killed his taking all his possessions. They killed his partner and Colter awaited his own execution. partner and Colter awaited his own execution. To his puzzlement, they set him free and told To his puzzlement, they set him free and told him to run. He took off and soon realized this him to run. He took off and soon realized this was a game of "human hunt". After running a was a game of "human hunt". After running a couple of miles, Colter turned around and couple of miles, Colter turned around and killed the only Indian that was close with his killed the only Indian that was close with his own spear. He stole his blanket and continued own spear. He stole his blanket and continued to run until he came to a river. By hiding in to run until he came to a river. By hiding in the river under a pile of logs, Colter was able the river under a pile of logs, Colter was able to evade his pursuers. He walked the 200 to evade his pursuers. He walked the 200 miles back to Fort Raymond with only a miles back to Fort Raymond with only a blanket for warmth and bark and roots to eat. blanket for warmth and bark and roots to eat. After eleven days, he stumbled into the After eleven days, he stumbled into the stockade, more dead than alive.stockade, more dead than alive.

Jim BridgerJim Bridger

““A very companionable A very companionable man. In person he was man. In person he was over six feet tall, spare, over six feet tall, spare, straight as an arrow, straight as an arrow, agile, rawboned and of agile, rawboned and of powerful frame, eyes powerful frame, eyes gray, hair brown and gray, hair brown and abundant even in old abundant even in old age, expression mild age, expression mild and manners agreeable. and manners agreeable. He was hospitable and He was hospitable and generous, and was generous, and was always trusted and always trusted and respected." respected."

He worked as a mountain man - trapping beaver, trading fur and dealing with Indians. He found passes through the mountains and knew the land well. He is credited with discovering the Great Salt Lake in 1824.

 He spoke many languages including English, Spanish, French and a number of Indian languages. 

 When the trade in fur fell into decline, Jim Bridger built Fort Bridger on the Oregon trail. The fort contained a shop and a blacksmiths forge and was a useful facility for travelers to restock and repair their wagons.

The Oregon TrailThe Oregon Trail

Missionaries were the first white Americans to Missionaries were the first white Americans to settle permanentlysettle permanently

You had to cover 2,000 miles in five monthsYou had to cover 2,000 miles in five months Biggest threat on the trail was sickness, Biggest threat on the trail was sickness,

especially choleraespecially cholera

The journey in a covered wagon took six months, The journey in a covered wagon took six months, through prairies, deserts, and across mountains to through prairies, deserts, and across mountains to the Pacific Northwest. the Pacific Northwest.

Settlers often had to cross flooded rivers. Indians Settlers often had to cross flooded rivers. Indians attacked the wagon trains; however, of the 10,000 attacked the wagon trains; however, of the 10,000 deaths that occurred from 1835 to 1855, only 4 deaths that occurred from 1835 to 1855, only 4 percent resulted from Indian attacks. Cholera, percent resulted from Indian attacks. Cholera, smallpox, and firearms accidents were the chief smallpox, and firearms accidents were the chief causes of death on the trail. Food, water, and wood causes of death on the trail. Food, water, and wood were always scarce, and the travelers often were always scarce, and the travelers often encountered contaminated water holes. encountered contaminated water holes.

During summer, the trail was crowded with wagon During summer, the trail was crowded with wagon trains, army units, missionaries, hunting parties, trains, army units, missionaries, hunting parties, traders, and even sightseeing tours. Some travelers traders, and even sightseeing tours. Some travelers complained that they sometimes had to stop early in complained that they sometimes had to stop early in the day in order to find a good campsite ahead of the the day in order to find a good campsite ahead of the crowd. Others spoke of the need to wear masks for crowd. Others spoke of the need to wear masks for protection against the dust kicked up by the heavy protection against the dust kicked up by the heavy traffic. traffic.

                                                 

Weird & Interesting factsWeird & Interesting facts http://www.isu.edu/%7Etri

nmich/Facts.html

Donner Party Donner Party http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/WWdonnerP.htm

The Donner Party was the The Donner Party was the worst disaster in wagon worst disaster in wagon train history. 42 pioneers train history. 42 pioneers and two Indian guides and two Indian guides died. 47 travelers survived.died. 47 travelers survived.

The Republic of TexasThe Republic of Texas

Section 2Section 2

In 1835, American settlers in Texas revolted against Mexican rule and in 1836, set up the independent Republic of Texas.

TERMS & PEOPLE TO KNOW

Santa Anna: Santa Anna: military dictator who gained power in Mexico and attacked the Alamo (180 Texans died, 1,500 Mexicans)

Sam Houston

"This morning we are in preparation to meet Santa Anna. It is the only chance for saving Texas."

In an address "To the People of Texas" he wrote: "We view ourselves on the eve of battle. We are nerved for the contest, and must conquer or perish…We must act now or abandon all hope."

Battle of San Jacinto: Battle of San Jacinto: Sam Houston attacked Santa Anna, battle lasted 18 minutes, forced Santa Anna to sign a treaty granting Texas independence

"Measured by its results, San Jacinto was one of the decisive battles of the world. The freedom of Texas from Mexico won here led to annexation and to the Mexican War, resulting in the acquisition by the United States of the States of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Utah, and parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas and Oklahoma. Almost one-third of the present area of the American nation, nearly a million square miles of territory, changed sovereignty."

The Lone Star RepublicThe Lone Star Republic

Texas was not a part of the U.S. at firstTexas was not a part of the U.S. at first It was a republicIt was a republic The U.S. was reluctant about letting Texas join The U.S. was reluctant about letting Texas join

because of the issue of slaverybecause of the issue of slavery The new Texas government encouraged The new Texas government encouraged

immigration by offering settlers free landimmigration by offering settlers free land

Texas becomes a stateTexas becomes a state

The U.S. didn’t want to anger Mexico by The U.S. didn’t want to anger Mexico by annexing Texasannexing Texas

President Sam Houston tricked the U.S. into President Sam Houston tricked the U.S. into accepting them by threatening to ally with accepting them by threatening to ally with Britain.Britain.

1845 – Texas, 281845 – Texas, 28thth state state

Manifest DestinyAn Allegorical Painting by John Gast 1872

Mexican WarMexican War

Mexico is enraged because they had never Mexico is enraged because they had never accepted Texan independenceaccepted Texan independence

Americans were annoyed that Mexico Americans were annoyed that Mexico wouldn’t accept President Polk’s offer of $30 wouldn’t accept President Polk’s offer of $30 million to buy California and New Mexico.million to buy California and New Mexico.

Border disputes in California and New MexicoBorder disputes in California and New Mexico Congress declares war on Mexico May 13, Congress declares war on Mexico May 13,

18461846

Course of the WarCourse of the War

Mixed response to the warMixed response to the war South & West – supportSouth & West – support Northerners – opposeNortherners – oppose War would last 20 monthsWar would last 20 months California revolts against Mexican rule and California revolts against Mexican rule and

becomes an independent republic (becomes an independent republic (the Bear the Bear Flag RepublicFlag Republic))

The Final BattleThe Final Battle

By 1847 the U.S controlled all of New Mexico By 1847 the U.S controlled all of New Mexico and California and had reached the heart of and California and had reached the heart of Mexico CityMexico City

There young Mexican soldiers made a historic There young Mexican soldiers made a historic stand at stand at ChapultepecChapultepec fort fort

Los Niños HéroesLos Niños Héroes

During the battle, six Mexican During the battle, six Mexican military cadets refused to fall military cadets refused to fall back when General Bravo finally back when General Bravo finally ordered retreat and fought to the ordered retreat and fought to the death. One by one they fell; when death. One by one they fell; when one was left (Juan Escutia, a one was left (Juan Escutia, a teenager), and the U.S. forces teenager), and the U.S. forces were about to kill him, he grabbed were about to kill him, he grabbed the the Mexican flag, wrapped it , wrapped it around himself and jumped off around himself and jumped off the castle point to prevent the the castle point to prevent the enemy from taking it.enemy from taking it.

Peace Brings New LandsPeace Brings New Lands

Treaty of Guadalupe-HidalgoTreaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 1848, 1848 Mexico ceded California and New MexicoMexico ceded California and New Mexico The U.S. paid $18 millionThe U.S. paid $18 million Agreed to respect the rights of Spanish speaking Agreed to respect the rights of Spanish speaking

people in the landpeople in the land Gadsden PurchaseGadsden Purchase, 1853 , 1853

Purchased for $10 million for the completion of a Purchased for $10 million for the completion of a railroadrailroad

fulfilled Manifest Destinyfulfilled Manifest Destiny

A Mix of CulturesA Mix of Cultures

After 1848, many settlers moved westAfter 1848, many settlers moved west Mexicans and Southwest Indians were treated Mexicans and Southwest Indians were treated

poorlypoorly When they tried to defend their property, they When they tried to defend their property, they

often lost their casesoften lost their cases Some Mexican laws were kept (married Some Mexican laws were kept (married

couples had joint ownership of land, couldn’t couples had joint ownership of land, couldn’t cut off the water source to another landowner)cut off the water source to another landowner)