Unit 3: The New Republic and Antebellum America (1789-1850)

Looking Westward: Fulfilling Manifest Destiny

I can discuss the reasons that motivated Americans to move west in the mid 1800s and analyze the causes and effects of

the Mexican War and California gold rush on the United States.

Americans Seek New Lands

• By 1830, the U.S. had acquired Louisiana and Florida and had removed the Native Americans of the Southeast.

• We also jointly occupied the Oregon Territory with Great Britain.

• Expansionists – Americans who wanted to add more territory, were looking toward Mexico for new possibilities.

Manifest Destiny

• The notion or belief that the U.S. was destined to control North America from ocean to ocean.

• It would be fulfilled at the expense of Native Americans and Mexican citizens.

Westward Bound!• Santa Fe Trail – Missouri to New

Mexico• Mountain men went into the Rocky

Mts in search of animal pelts• Oregon Trail – Marcus and Narcissa

Whitman established a mission in the Walla Walla Valley; this paved the way for families heading to the Williamette Valley of Oregon and Washington.

• Between 1840-1860 about 260,000 Americans crossed the Rockies.

Gone to Texas!• 1820s – Americans began to settle

in Texas because land grants were cheap.

• They had to agree to become Mexican citizens.

• By 1835 there were about 30,000 Anglo-Texans living in Texas. They outnumbered Mexicans 6-1.

• Why will this relationship go bad???

The Texas Revolt of 1836• 1835 – Texans rebelled against General Antonio Lopez

de Santa Anna’s authority and seized garrisons at Goliad and San Antonio.

• “Remember the Alamo!” – March 1836, after 12 days of siege, Mexican troops seized the mission and all survivors were executed. 200 Texans were killed in all.

• Battle of San Jacinto (1836) – Col. Sam Houston and America forces routed Santa Anna’s army.

• Santa Anna signed a treaty recognizing Texas independence, but Mex. Gov’t refused to accept it. An undeclared border war raged for 10 yrs. Between Mexico and Texas.

• President Jackson wanted annexation, but he was blocked by Northern congressman. Why?

President James K. Polk fulfills Manifest Destiny (1845-1849)

• 1844 – James K. Polk (D-TN) elected President.

• He vowed to fulfill Manifest Destiny by taking Oregon from Britain. In a compromise, he agrees to divide the territory at the 49th parallel of latitude.

• The U.S. received the future states of Washington and Oregon.

The Mexican-American War (1846-1848)

• Before Polk took office, Congress narrowly voted to annex TX and it entered U.S. as a slave state. Mexico refused to accept it.

• General Zachary Taylor was sent into the borderland between the rivers.

• Dec. 1846, U.S. troops clashed with Mexican forces and 11 Americans were killed.

• Polk said, Mexico “invaded our territory and shed American blood upon the American soil.”

• Congress declared war.

Winning the War• By September 1847, the U.S. had seized

New Mexico and California and General Winfield Scott had captured Mexico City.

• Mexican forces fought bravely, but were no match for U.S. weaponry and strength.

• Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo (1848) gave the U.S. the American S.W. from the Rio Grande to CA – 1.2 million sq. miles of new territory – for $20 million.

• 1853 – Gadsden Purchase - $10 M to Mexico for Southern Arizona to appease embittered Mexican government.