TheThe Oregon CountryOregon Country

• Spain, Great Britain, Russia and the Spain, Great Britain, Russia and the United States claimed parts of the United States claimed parts of the Oregon Country.Oregon Country.

• Eventually Spain and Russia gave Eventually Spain and Russia gave up their claim.up their claim.

• Great Britain and the United States Great Britain and the United States divided the territory.divided the territory.

• Great Britain took the northern Great Britain took the northern part, and the United States took part, and the United States took the southern.the southern.

• Many people traveled west to Many people traveled west to Oregon in search of fertile Oregon in search of fertile farmland.farmland.

• The route they took to Oregon The route they took to Oregon was called the Oregon Trail.was called the Oregon Trail.

• The Oregon Trail began in The Oregon Trail began in Missouri and ended in Oregon.Missouri and ended in Oregon.

TexasTexas

• Texas was part of Mexico and both Texas was part of Mexico and both belonged to Spain.belonged to Spain.

• Mexico fights a war with Spain and Mexico fights a war with Spain and becomes independent.becomes independent.

• The government of Mexico invites The government of Mexico invites Americans to come and live in Texas.Americans to come and live in Texas.

• Stephen F. Austin brings the first Stephen F. Austin brings the first American families to Texas (Mexico).American families to Texas (Mexico).

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In order to get land in Texas, the In order to get land in Texas, the Americans had to follow these rulesAmericans had to follow these rules::

• learn Spanishlearn Spanish• become Mexican citizensbecome Mexican citizens• become Catholicsbecome Catholics• obey Mexican lawsobey Mexican laws

• By 1830 there were more Americans in By 1830 there were more Americans in Texas than Mexicans.Texas than Mexicans.

• The United States offered to buy Texas The United States offered to buy Texas from Mexico twice. Mexico said no.from Mexico twice. Mexico said no.

• In 1830 Mexico passed a law to stop In 1830 Mexico passed a law to stop Americans from coming to Texas.Americans from coming to Texas.

• Americans living in Texas became Americans living in Texas became angry and fought the Mexican angry and fought the Mexican government.government.

• The Americans won and Texas became The Americans won and Texas became a separate country.a separate country.

• Texas asked to be part of the U.S. Texas asked to be part of the U.S. • President Andrew Jackson refused. President Andrew Jackson refused.

• After James K. Polk became president, After James K. Polk became president, Texas became a state of the United Texas became a state of the United States on December 28, 1845States on December 28, 1845

Mexican WarMexican War

• President Polk wanted California and President Polk wanted California and New Mexico territories (New Mexico, New Mexico territories (New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and parts of Arizona, Nevada, Utah and parts of Colorado and Wyoming).Colorado and Wyoming).

• He offered to buy the areas from He offered to buy the areas from Mexico, but Mexico refused.Mexico, but Mexico refused.

• Polk planned to provoke Mexico. He Polk planned to provoke Mexico. He wanted Mexico to attack the U.S., so wanted Mexico to attack the U.S., so that he could have a good reason to that he could have a good reason to declare war on Mexico.declare war on Mexico.

The reason for the Mexican WarThe reason for the Mexican War::

• When the U. S. annexed (added) When the U. S. annexed (added) Texas, the U.S. believed that the Texas, the U.S. believed that the Southern border of Texas was the Rio Southern border of Texas was the Rio Grande River.Grande River.

• Mexico believed that the Southern Mexico believed that the Southern border of Texas was the Nueces River.border of Texas was the Nueces River.

• President Polk sent American soldiers President Polk sent American soldiers to set up a fort between the Rio Grande to set up a fort between the Rio Grande and the Nueces River.and the Nueces River.

• Mexican soldiers attacked the fort.Mexican soldiers attacked the fort.• U.S. Congress declared war on Mexico U.S. Congress declared war on Mexico

on May 11, 1860.on May 11, 1860.

• President Polk told Congress that President Polk told Congress that Mexico had “invaded our territory and Mexico had “invaded our territory and shed American blood upon the shed American blood upon the American soil.”American soil.”

• The Mexican War was fought over the The Mexican War was fought over the southern border of Texassouthern border of Texas..

• The U.S. won the war.The U.S. won the war.• The U.S. took from Mexico what is now The U.S. took from Mexico what is now

New Mexico, Arizona, California, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Utah, Nevada, and part of Wyoming and Nevada, and part of Wyoming and Colorado. This area is called the Colorado. This area is called the Mexican CessionMexican Cession..

• Later the U.S. bought the lower part of Later the U.S. bought the lower part of New Mexico and Arizona from Mexico New Mexico and Arizona from Mexico for $10 million. This area is called the for $10 million. This area is called the Gadsden PurchaseGadsden Purchase..

• The U.S. wanted the Gadsden The U.S. wanted the Gadsden Purchase to build a railroad through the Purchase to build a railroad through the area.area.

Manifest DestinyManifest Destiny

• Manifest Destiny is the idea that the Manifest Destiny is the idea that the U.S. was meant to extend its borders U.S. was meant to extend its borders from the from the Atlantic OceanAtlantic Ocean to the to the Pacific Pacific OceanOcean..

• Many Americans felt it was their right Many Americans felt it was their right and duty to move westward and take and duty to move westward and take over the continent.over the continent.

Gold RushGold Rush

18491849

• Gold was discovered in California in Gold was discovered in California in 1848. 1848.

• In 1849 many people rushed to In 1849 many people rushed to California with dreams of becoming rich.California with dreams of becoming rich.

• People that went to look for gold were People that went to look for gold were called called forty-ninersforty-niners..

• The discovery of gold in California The discovery of gold in California contributed to an increase in population contributed to an increase in population that led to statehood for California.that led to statehood for California.

• San FranciscoSan Francisco became a center for became a center for banking, manufacturing, shipping and banking, manufacturing, shipping and trade as a result of the 1849 California trade as a result of the 1849 California Gold Rush.Gold Rush.

MormonsMormons

• The Mormons were a religious group The Mormons were a religious group that wanted to build an ideal society.that wanted to build an ideal society.

• The Mormons migrated to what is now The Mormons migrated to what is now Salt Lake City, Utah, and it was the Salt Lake City, Utah, and it was the largest single migration in American largest single migration in American history.history.