Chapter 5: Manifest Destiny

Section Notes

Manifest DestinyWestward MigrationTexas IndependenceWar with Mexico

Maps

American Trails WestThe Mexican-American War

Essential Question: How did the Mexican American War foreshadow U.S. Imperialism and future racial relations?

“Manifest Destiny”Americans believed in manifest destiny, the idea that the

nation had a God-given right to all of North America.

Reading Focus

•Why did Americans head west?Gold, new farmlands, trap and trade, minerals,

missionaries•How did the gold rush affect California?49’ers, by 1854 as many as 300,000 people had migrated

to California, how did they get there?•What were some major effects of westward migration?Few gave thought to the effect on Native Americans,

conversion to Christianity, created tensions with Mexico

Westward Migration

• Few gave thought to how manifest destiny would affect native peoples.

• Mountain men went west to trap and trade.

• Missionaries hoped to convert Native Americans to Christianity.

• Lumberjacks and miners went to capitalize on timber and minerals.

• Farmers moved west to farm vast, rich lands.

• Entrepreneurs made their way to California.

Americans in large numbers followed trails to the West in the 1840s and 1850s.

Texas

The Main Idea

American settlers in Texas revolted against the Mexican government and created the independent Republic of

Texas.

Reading Focus

• Why did Mexico allow American settlers into Texas?

Develop and defend the providence of Texas, increase population

• What was the tradeoff for Anglo Texans?

Oath of allegiance, no slavery, worship as Roman Catholics

• What were the causes and effects of the Texas Revolution…?

Causes and Effects of Revolution

On February 23, 1836, Santa Anna’s force of 6,000 soldiers reached San Antonio. A demand of surrender was met with cannon fire from William Travis. The Mexican army laid siege to the fort, pounding it for 12 days and nights. The fort was finally stormed, with nearly all defenders killed.

The Alamo1835: Rebel Texan forces captured San Antonio, which contained a fort called the Alamo. Santa Anna led an army into Texas to punish the rebels and put down the unrest once and for all.

Santa Anna

While the Alamo was under siege, a small group of Texans met at Washington-on-the-Brazos to issue the Texas Declaration of Independence. They wrote a constitution for the new, independent nation. At the Battle of San Jacinto, hundreds of Mexicans were killed or captured, including Santa Anna, who signed a treaty recognizing Texas Independence.

March 2, 1836

The Annexation of Texas

Proponents• Americans who believed in

Manifest Destiny wanted to admit Texas to the Union.

• Supporters viewed the Texas Revolution in the spirit of the American Revolution.

• Southerners supported annexation because Texas allowed slavery, and its admission would boost the South’s political power.

Opponents

• Americans were concerned that the U.S. would have to bear the substantial Texas debt.

• Northerners opposed annexation because it would spread slavery westward and increase slave states’ voting power in Congress.

• A major argument in Congress was that the Constitution said nothing about admitting an independent nation.

Voters in Texas overwhelmingly approved annexation, and Texas became a part of the United States on December 29, 1845.

The Mexican-American War

American forces under Taylor advanced into northern Mexico. General Winfield Scott marched his forces into Mexico City. In a matter of months, U.S. forces had captured New Mexico and California. When their capital fell, the Mexican government was forced to give in.

The war starts

While Slidell was in Mexico, Polk ordered General Zachary Taylor to take his troops into the disputed border territory. The U.S. used the event of a minor skirmish to declare war on Mexico.

Fighting the war

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago (1848) forced Mexico to turn over a huge tract of land known as the Mexican Cession, while the U.S. paid Mexico $15 million. Debate continues over whether the Mexican-American War was justified.

Results of the war

Mexican American War (page 180 for map)

Essential Question

How did the Mexican American War foreshadow U.S. Imperialism and future racial relations?