Bell Ringer 4/24/141. The Republic of Texas existed from 1836 to 1845 before Texas joined the United

States. Besides the likelihood of war with Mexico, why did annexation take so long?

A. Texas did not want to join the Union.

B. Statehood could not happen until the borders were defined.

C. Texas would be admitted as a slave state.

D. Other territories were in line for statehood first.

2. Why did Americans originally want to settle in Texas?

3. What fear did some Americans have about annexing Texas?

Do Now

OregonLesson 10

Donner Party (Da Hook)

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHi8XxLlpms

• 15:22-26:44

Oregon Territory

• The U.S.’s claim to Oregon was based on Lewis & Clarke’s expedition all the way to the Pacific coast after the Louisiana Purchase.

Jedediah Smith

• Jedediah Smith found an easier passage to travel through the Rocky Mountains called the South Pass in 1824, which encouraged Americans to start moving to Oregon.

“Pioneer’s Paradise”• Oregon was known as

“Pioneer’s Paradise” because of sunny weather, little disease, acres of farmland and forests. Original settlers were missionaries who wanted to convert Native Americans.

James K. Polk

• “Fifty-four forty or fight!” means Polk would fight if necessary to get ALL of Oregon Territory from Great Britain instead of sharing it.

Oregon Territory

• Polk eventually compromised with Great Britain, splitting Oregon at the 49th parallel. Today that is the northern border of the U.S. with Canada.

3 major trails

• The Oregon Trail in the north from Missouri to Oregon

• The Santa Fe Trail in the south from Missouri to New Mexico

• The Mormon Trail in the middle led by Brigham Young from Iowa to Utah