American Expansionism N.C.S.C.O.S. Objective 2.01 How the United States became a much larger country Lewis and Clark Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were two U.S. Army officers commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson to explore the land acquired by the Louisiana Purchase and beyond. Their expedition took 3 years and took them from Illinois to present day Oregon. The explorers collected scientific data, discovered water routes and mapped the entire territory Missouri Compromise This was a controversial agreement in the U.S. Congress allowing the new state of Missouri admittance into the United States as a slave state. Southern states wanted this happen because they believed it would allow slavery to remain legal. Northern states, who anti-slavery, such as New York fought against Missouris admittance. The Missouri compromise was struck to allow Missouri citizens to own slaves if Maine was admitted without slaves. Indian Removal Act of 1830 Law passed by Congress and supported by President Andrew Jackson to relocate Native Tribes from Southern territories to the Great Plains. Areas vacated: were Florida, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Georgia. Areas relocated to: Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa, North/South Dakota. The relocations were involuntary and the Indians were placed on reservations The Cherokee nation sued for their land rights in the Worcester vs. Georgia court case but Jackson refused to honor the decision giving land rights back. Trail of Tears After the forced the relocation of the Cherokee nation and other tribes due to the Indian Removal Act. Many Native Tribes tried to resist the relocation but they were outnumbered and outgunned by the U.S. Military. The route that the natives traveled with filled with sadness, misery and tears Sequoyah An important Cherokee nation member who admired the writing system of whites. He became a silversmith and businessman. His most important contribution to the Cherokee nation was his creation of a written language. The Cherokee language was so complicated decided to create symbols for each syllable instead of each letter. His writing system was responsible for increased the literacy rates of the entire Cherokee Nation. The Alamo and Texan conflicts in Mexico In the early to mid 1800s Mexico wanted Americans to migrate to Mexico to develop the land and bring residents to the area. The Americans came and were led by Stephen F. Austin who later became upset at the level of taxes charged by Mexico. Americans rebelled and were crushed at an old Spanish Fort named the Alamo American was killed by the Mexican army. Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842 During the 1700s and 1800s there border disputes between the British and French. Later on the disputes were between the Americans and France. Thousands of Native Americans also lived in these territories which made the conflicts trickier because more people meant more bloodshed. In 1842 the Webster-Ashburton Treaty created a permanent border between Lake Superior and Maine, U.S./New Brunswick, Canada. Oregon Trail The Oregon Trail was an over 2,000 mile land route [traveled road] staring in Missouri and ending in present Oregon. It was started in parts buy men trading animal furs and later completed/used by Mormon religious pilgrims. The terrain [land surface] was rough, hilly, mountainous and occupied by hostile native tribes. Thousands of people died along the route for reasons such as disease, starvation and Indian attacks. 5440 or Fight! The dispute [argument] over the border between Oregon and Canada caused a lot of concern in the U.S. Government. Because the U.S. wanted to expand it was willing to fight to gain property rights to the Pacific Northwest. At first England and the U.S. agreed to share the territory but the term 5440 or Fight! Refers to Americans willing to fight for the land. A treaty signed later settled the dispute and a border was accepted by both sides. Election of 1844 The presidential election of 1844 was one the closest in U.S. History [decided by less than 10,000 votes]. The election was so close because disputes over borders with Canada and Mexico. James Polk was in favor of peaceful settlements. War hawk Henry Clay was in favor of fighting to end the disputes if necessary. Polk won the election. James K. Polk Henry Clay Texas Annexation Stephen F. Austin and the Texans had defeated the Mexican Army led by Mexican General Santa Anna in several battles. For 6 years ( ) Austin served as the leader of the Republic of Texas. This territory was not recognized by Mexico. In 1845 the United States annexed [took in] Texas as the 28 th state. Mexico was furious about this and this led to a war between the U.S. and Mexico from Wilmot Proviso Congressman David Wilmot from Pennsylvania proposed an amendment to a federal law banning slavery in any territory the United States captured from Mexico. This was similar to the situation dealing with the Missouri compromise. Southern states were concerned banning slavery anywhere would lead to banning slavery everywhere. The Wilmot proviso was not passed. Mexican War, the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo and Mexican cession Mexican War, the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo and Mexican cession After the United States annexed Texas Mexico was furious and declared war in 1846 to regain the territory. After the United States annexed Texas Mexico was furious and declared war in 1846 to regain the territory. Because the U.S. had a more powerful army with more effective weapons it was able to defeat Mexico within 3 years by Because the U.S. had a more powerful army with more effective weapons it was able to defeat Mexico within 3 years by The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo was signed ending the war. Mexico ceded [gave up, transferred] California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and New Mexico to the U.S. for $18 million. The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo was signed ending the war. Mexico ceded [gave up, transferred] California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and New Mexico to the U.S. for $18 million. 49ers The Mexican cession of California gave citizens an opportunity to start new communities. Thousands of people headed West. The Mexican cession of California gave citizens an opportunity to start new communities. Thousands of people headed West. Prospectors discovered gold in Northern California in News spread to other parts of the U.S.. American men from all over rushed to California they were called 49ers [because of the year]. Prospectors discovered gold in Northern California in News spread to other parts of the U.S.. American men from all over rushed to California they were called 49ers [because of the year]. The mad scramble was called the Gold rush of Boomtowns sprang up all over where people discovered gold. The mad scramble was called the Gold rush of Boomtowns sprang up all over where people discovered gold. Gadsden Purchase Gadsden Purchase The Transcontinental Railroad had been spreading across the United States. Because of bad geography [poor soil conditions] the U.S. decided to buy land South of New Mexico and Arizona. The sale of the land by the U.S. for $10 million from Mexico was called the Gadsden Purchase. Four Corners Four Corners Lewis and Clark were courageous for going on their expedition into the Louisiana Territory It was perfectly acceptable to forcefully remove and relocate the Cherokee off their land Mexico had the right to be upset when the United States annexed Texas Image sources