1. Manifest Destiny:
Chapter 7

2. Manifest Destiny What was it? What caused it?
Belief that the United States was “destined” to settle the entire North American continent from Atlantic to Pacific Oceans
What caused it?
Louisiana Purchase—made the possibility of coast to coast settlement realistic for the first time
Economic motives—more land to be settled by farmers, lots of natural resources to be exploited by others
Racial motives—belief that European Americans were racially superior to the American Indians/Mexicans who currently occupied the West
Religious motives—God wanted the US to spread its divinely inspired government, civilization, and Protestant religion to the uncivilized west

3. Focus of US Westward Expansion 1830-1848
Texas, Oregon, California
American Expansion into Texas
1820s Mexico gained its independence from Spain
1823 Mexican govt began offering large tracts of land in Texas to American settlers who agreed to populate the area (Stephen Austin)
,000 Americans living in Texas
American-Mexican tensions
Slavery, religion, illegal immigration, local governance
1835 self government for Texas repealed
1836 Independence declared, war for independence 1836
Texas as independent country
Why no immediate US annexation in 1836?
Became issue in 1844 election

5. Oregon and California Oregon Country California
Area of modern day Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and British Columbia
Originally claimed by Spain, Britain, US, and Russia—by 1820s only US and Britain
1840s American immigration to Oregon increased rapidly
1846 5,000 Americans living in Oregon Country, not that many British
Became election issue in 1844
California
California was sparsely populated by Mexican citizens
Home to lots of good farmland and valuable ports
US wanted to buy California from Mexico

7. Politics 1840-1844: Tyler and Polk
William Henry Harrison (Whig) elected 1840
John Tyler became President 1841
President without a party—didn’t get along with the Whigs
Expelled from the Whig party
Election of 1844
James k. Polk (Democrat) “Who is James K. Polk?”
Expansion: pro-annexation of Texas, pro-annexation of Oregon, pro-annexation of California
Henry Clay (Whig)
Anti-expansion: build up the land that the US currently has, afraid of the debate over the spread of slavery
Polk won by a large margin
Tyler—annexed Texas in his last weeks in office 1845

8. Polk Presidency Goals of Polk
Annexation Texas—completed by Tyler before Polk took office
Lower tariffs—achieved in 1846
Renew of the independent treasury (Democratic party’s alternative to the national bank)—achieved in 1846
Annexation of Oregon
Polk threatened war with Britain, “54-40 or Fight!” (all of modern day British Columbia)
Settled at the 49th parallel—modern US-Canada border
So no and no fight either
Annex California
Polk wanted to buy California from Mexico, but the Mexicans weren’t selling, why?
Polk’s other options??

9. Mexican American War 1846-1848 Causes Start of War War 1846-1848
Polk wanted to take control of California
Disputes between US and Mexico over the Texas border
Mexico upset about US annexation of Texas
Start of War
Polk sent soldiers to disputed zone between US and Mexico
Soldiers stayed there until Mexicans attacked—several weeks
“American blood on American soil!”
Small but important opposition to the war—conscience Whigs
War Declared 1846
War
US quickly conquered California—Fremont, New Mexico—Kearny, and most of Mexico—Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott
Peace treaty—Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)—ended the war

11. Impact of Mexican American War
US gained almost all of the modern day American southwest
Modern-day states of California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma
US gained access to all the raw materials and natural resources in those areas (what was discovered in California in ?)
Damaged US-Mexican relations until the present day
How do you think Mexicans think of this war?
Should this war alter our attitudes toward immigration into the Southwest from Mexico?
“Dress rehearsal” for the Civil War
Key figures in Mexican American War would be the key figures in the Civil War as well
Most importantly—would set off a chain of events that would help divide the country and lead to the Civil War in 1861
Question: Would there be slavery in the newly acquired territories?