US Honors Imperialism Project: Manifest Destiny II

Farris Ahmed

Nish Trivedi

Rohin Nair

Matt Bullard

Ms. Sanyigo

US Honors/ 1A

Background of the Mexican-American War

Americans thought it was their destiny to extend their boundaries.

American settlers in Texas were disgruntled with Mexican officials and decided to gain independence.

The Battle of the Alamo ignited the movement for Texan independence.

President James K. Polk wanted the United States to go from “sea to shining sea”.

Polk declared war when Mexican officials refused to compromise.

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The Mexican-American War

The United States annexed Texas while under Mexican rule. The US also tried to get California and New Mexico, also Mexican territories.

US General Stephen Kearny attacked Mexican forces in Santa Fe.

Generals Winfield Scott and Zachory Taylor conquered major Mexican cities, causing the Mexican government to surrender.

Californian rebels defeated weak Mexican forces and claimed their independence. This became known as the Bear Flag Revolt.

The US got Texas and the Mexican Cession (New Mexico, California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming) in return for $15 million and a dropped $3 million claim.

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Mexican Cession (1848)

Part of Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Gained the Mexican Cession ( land in NM, CA, NV, AZ, UT, CO, WY)

Mexicans in USA were permitted to keep their land and gain American citizenship

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Gadsden Purchase (1853)

USA and Mexico resolved the boundary dispute which led to the end of the war

USA purchased the disputed land, called the Gadsden Purchase

US citizens also attempted to sneak into Mexico in efforts to start a new rebellion to gain land

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The Alaska Purchase

Alaska was initially Russian territory. In 1859 , Russia offered to sell this land to the U.S, but the civil war stalled the purchase. On March 30th 1867, the secretary of state, William Seward, started up negotiations to purchase Alaska again. The senate approved this on April 9th the same year, and Andrew Johnson signed off on the purchase on May 28th . Alaska became U.S territory on October 18th 1867 for $7.2million.

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Seward’s Folly? • Alaska was considered to be a waste of money

and was dubbed, “Seward’s Folly”, or “Johnson’s Polar bear garden”.• However, this changed when prospectors headed to Alaska and discovered gold and other minerals in 1872.• These discoveries made Alaska worth a lot more than what the U.S had paid Russia.• Alaska was an example of U.S imperialism because the U.S wanted to be an influence in Asia.

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The Midway IslandsUnincorporated territory of the U.S.

Made up of 2 main islands, the Sand island and the Eastern (green) island.

Formally annexed by the U.S. in 1867

Teddy Roosevelt gave possession of the islands to the U.S. navy in 1903

A trans-pacific cable that ran through the island brought the first residents in 1903.

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The Midway Islands1942- US victory over a

Japanese fleet in WWII near the midway islands became a turning point in the war.

The islands were used as naval and air bases until 1993 when both bases were shut down.

Today the islands are a national wildlife refuge.

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Farris’s Work CitedAyers, Edward L. Holt American Anthem Modern

American History. Austin: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2007. Print.

"Mexican-American War (Mexico-United States [1846-48])." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2012. Web. 20 Sept. 2012. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/379134/Mexican- American-War>.

Nish’s Work Cited"Gadsden Purchase, 1853-1854." History.state.gov. U.S. Department of State, n.d. Web. 20 July 2012.

<http://history.state.gov/milestones/1830-1860/ GadsdenPurchase>.

"Gadsden Purchase." Gadsden Purchase. Villa Mesilla, n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2012.

<http://www.oldmesilla.org/html/gadsden_purchase.html>.

"The Nation Expands." Learner.org. Annenberg Learner, n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2012.

<http://www.learner.org/interactives/historymap/ states.html>.

Rohin’s Work Cited"Milestones: 1866-1898." U.S department of State office of the historian. Office of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs, United States Department of State, n.d. Web. 15 Sep 2012. <http://history.state.gov/milestones/1866-1898/AlaskaPurchase>.

"Minerals in Alaska." alaska public lands information center. ALASKA.gov, n.d. Web. 15 Sep 2012. <http://

www.alaskacenters.gov/minerals.cfm>.

Matt’s Work Cited"Geography." About.com. N.p., 2005. Web. 20 Sept. 2012.

<http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blcmidway.htm>.

"Midway Islands". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.Encyclopædia

Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 20 Sep. 2012.<http://www.britannica.com/ EBchecked/

topic/381695/Midway-Islands>.