1.  Chapter 11-Expanding West

2. (11-1) Trails to the West  The fur trade brought Americans to the West; “beaver hat”  John Jacob Astor created the American Fur Company  Astoria one of the first American settlements in Oregon Country  Mountain Men were western fur traders and trappers and were the first to explore the Rocky Mts.  Rendezvous- yearly meeting where traders met to trade and socialize  Settlers went to the Oregon Country for the rich resources, the mild climate, and because of the Panic of 1837

3. The Oregon Trail  The Oregon Trail started at Independence, Missouri and ended near Portland, Oregon  Pioneers travelling on the Oregon Trail faced shortages of food, supplies, and water. They faced geographic barriers such as mountains and rivers.  Although newspapers reported Native American massacres, few settlers died from Indian attacks.

4. The Santa Fe Trail  The Santa Fe Trail went from Independence, Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Settlers traveled across blazing deserts and rough mountains, but the lure of high profits encouraged traders to take the trail.

6. Mormons Travel West  Joseph Smith founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Members became known as Mormons.  Smith was murdered in Nauvoo, Illinois, by an anti-Mormon mob in 1844.  Polygamy- the practice in which one man marries several women at the same time  Brigham Young followed Smith and led the Mormons to Utah following the Mormon Trail. By 1860 there were 40,000 Mormons in Utah.

9. Clockwise  John Jacob Astor  Jim Beckwourth  Jim Bridger  Joseph Smith  Brigham Young  Pioneer Family

10. 11-2 The Texas Revolution  Father Miguel Hidalgo-led a rebellion of 80,000 Indian and mestizos against Spain( the revolt failed)  Mexico achieved independence from Spain in 1821  Stephen F. Austin started a Texas colony on Colorado River. The first 300 families became known as the Old Three Hundred.  Slavery was illegal in Texas, Americans bring slaves; Mexico bans further American settlement  Angry about the new law, Texans begin to think of gaining independence

11. Texas Revolt Against Mexico  The Texas Revolution began because the Mexican army tried to remove a cannon from the town of Gonzalez  On March 2, 1836, Texas declared their independence from Mexico.  Sam Houston was the head of the Texas army

12. Alamo and San Jacinto  The Alamo was an abandoned mission in San Antonio, Texas that became an important battle site in the Texas Revolution.  Alamo rebels (inc. Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie) held out for 2 weeks; all were killed; Santa Anna executes 350 prisoners who surrendered.  Santa Anna defeated by Texans at Battle of San Jacinto, was captured and forced to sign a treaty giving Texas independence.

14. San Jacinto Monument Houston, Texas

15. An Independent Nation  Sam Houston elected president of Texas and Stephen Austin as Sec. of State  Congress wants to annex Texas as a slave state; Jackson refuses  Texas becomes an independent nation  Mexico did not recognize Santa Anna’s forced signing; Texas Rangers formed to guard against Mexican and NA attacks;  Finally, in 1844 Texas and Mexico signed a peace treaty.

16. 11-3 The Mexican-American War  Manifest Destiny- a belief shared by many Americans that the U.S. should expand across the continent to the Pacific Ocean.  John Tyler wanted to increase power of slave states by annexing Texas  James K. Polk defeats Henry Clay in election of 1844  Polk set out to annex Oregon and Texas to U.S.

17. Acquiring New Territory  54° 40’ or Fight!- slogan referring to the 54°40’ north latitude, the line where Americans wanted their northern territory to extend.  Texas was annexed to the United States in 1845.  Oregon became an organized US territory in 1848.  The mission system ended when Mexico became independent from Spain and mission lands went to the wealthiest Californios, or early California settlers

18.  The U.S. declared war on Mexico over disagreements over the US-Mexico border; Mexican soldiers attacked US soldiers stationed in a disputed area  Many Americans supported the war; Whigs thought the war unjustified; northern abolitionists feared spread of slavery

20. Bear Flag Revolt  The Bear Flag Revolt was when Americans in California declared to be an independent nation.  John C. Fremont led settlers against Californios; wanted California to become independent nation, not a state; US forces enter California and claim California for US

21. Key Battles  Santa Fe- Aug. 1846  Buena Vista- Feb. 1847  Veracruz-March 1847  Cerro Gordo-April 1847  Mexico City- Sept. 1847

22. American Settlement in the Mexican Cession  Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo officially ended the war and forced Mexico to turn over much of its northern territory to the US  Mexican Cession- totaled more than 500,000 square miles and increased the size of the US by almost 25%  Gadsden Purchase- US paid Mexico $10 million in exchange for southern parts of Arizona and New Mexico(important for railroad)

24. Surge of American Settlers  Conflicts arose over the desire to control valuable resources; differing laws concerning property and water rights, lack of respect for Native American lands and holy places  Mexican Americans taught settlers about mining and ranching. Adobe developed by Anasazi Indians and still used in southwest today  NA traded goods with Americans in exchange for manufactured goods; economy in SW improved  Irrigation was needed for farming; conflict with accepted tradition of equal access to water

25. 11-4 The California Gold Rush  American merchants were more interested in trading goods than establishing settlements  John Sutter started a colony at Sutter’s Fort near the Sacramento River  The Donner Party was a group of travelers who were stranded in the Sierra Nevada Mts. 42 of the 87 travelers died. (Springfield, IL)

28. Gold in California  Sutter sent James Marshall to build a sawmill; Marshall saw gold on ground. Stories of the discovery spread rapidly and by 1849 80,000 came to California  Forty-niners- gold seekers who moved to California during the gold rush  Gold seekers travelled by covered wagon, or via sea routes; first arrived in San Fransisco

29. Gold Rush (con’d.)  Prospecting means searching for gold, usually along streams and rivers  “stake a claim”- first person to arrive at a spot claimed it was theirs; violence disputes arose over competing claims  There were no courts to settle disputes  Place miners used pans to wash gold nuggets out of loose rock

30. Gold Rush (con’t.)  Most people prospected or hunted for gold; others supplied goods to miners or ran businesses that catered to miners  Only 5% of Gold Rush immigrants were women and children  Biddy Mason, a slave, gained her freedom and moved to LA; purchased land which increased in value from $250 to $200,000; became one of wealthiest landowners in CA

33. Immigrants  Chinese came to CA to escape hardships in China; discriminated against  Levi Strauss- German Jewish immigrant who earned fortune by making jeans (Levi’s)  People from the east and Midwest came to CA, along with enslaved African Americans and immigrants from China, Europe, Mexico, and South America

34. Impact on California  Political Effect: California became a state only 2 years after it was acquired; became 31 st state in 1850.  Farming and ranching became an important part of economy other than gold mining  California’s isolation from rest of US caused problems- difficult to get goods there (railroads became an important issue)