American History

Chapter 5.2Expansion

Manifest Destiny

Belief that God gave America the right (and purpose) “to stretch from sea to shining sea”

Started with the Louisiana Purchase

Westward Movement

• Fur trade• Mining• Trade• Farming

A new life

Western Trails

• Oregon Trail• Santa Fe Trail• California Trail• Mormon Trail

Independence, Missouri -- the jumping off place for many settlers heading west.

Texas Revolution

• American settlers came to Texas in the 1820s.

• By the 1830s, many of them wanted independence from Mexico.

“Remember the Alamo”

William B. Travis & 150 Texans fought at a mission called the Alamo.

All were killed by the army of Mexican general, Santa Anna.

Battle of San Jacinto

Sam Houston Santa Anna

Houston defeated Santa Anna’s army. He became the president of the Lone Star Republic.

Republic of Texas

“The Lone Star Republic”

1836-1845

Texas Annexation1845

Texans expected to become part of the U.S. after their war for independence from Mexico.

It wasn’t that easy . . .

Northerners were opposed.

Two problems:

1. A new slave state would upset the balance of power in the Senate.

2. Annexation would lead to war with Mexico.

Oregon Territory

• Oregon had been owned jointly with Britain.

• Expansionists wanted the U.S. border to be at the 54 > 40’ .

1846 -- Treaty with Britain set the line at the 49th parallel.

54 > 40’ or Fight!

Mexican War

Mexico thought the border of Texas should look like this.

The U.S. thought the border should include the gold area.

• Zachary Taylor invaded from Texas.

• Winfield Scott was the winner at Mexico City.

Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo

The official end to the Mexican War

Mexican Cession

Mexico gave up the entire Southwest for $15 million.

Almost the size of the Louisiana Purchase!

Gadsden Purchase

• Southerners wanted the Transcontinental Railroad to take a southern route.

• Mexico sold a strip of land for $10 million.

The last territory addition to the “lower 48.”

James K. Polk

As President, he added more territory to the U.S. than any other.

• Texas• Oregon• Mexican Cession

???????????The new territories . . .

Would they be SLAVE or FREE???

California Gold Rush

1848

Sutter’s Mill

“Forty-Niners”

Not many became rich, but it led to the settlement of the west.