1. Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion
Oregon Trail
U.S. Mexican War
California Gold Rush

2. Oregon Trail 1843 Great Migration Westward to the Oregon Territory
Approximately 200,000 traveled along this trail
Most traveled in covered wagons
Ended with the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869

3. The Trail West
From Independence to Portland

4. Why Head West? Freedom of life on the frontier Manifest Destiny
Reputation for good farmland
Escape from epidemics of disease and infection in the east
640 acre land grants for free
To prevent this territory from falling under the control of the British

5. Role of the British in the Oregon Territory
Occupied this territory to profit from fur trade
1844, Presidential Candidate James Polk ran on the platform “54 40 or Fight”
British military considered a war to keep control, but decided against it because of U.S. patriotism and military

6. Polk: “54 40 or Fight”
Through negotiations with the British after Polk's inauguration, the boundary between the U.S. and British Canada was established at 49° with the Treaty of Oregon in 1846.

7. Jumping Off Cities Independence, MO, and Council Bluffs, Iowa
Economies of these towns prospered from growth of supply shops that served the emigrants

8. Remnants of the Trail are Still Visible Today
Scotts Bluff National Monument, Scottsbluff, Nebraska (left)

9. Hardships Along The Way
2000 mile journey - Walking
Purchase 1000 pounds of food for the journey
Disease – Cholera
Weather
River Crossings
Wagon accidents

10. Death along the way
There are several graves marked with fieldstones in a fenced in area at Register Cliff in Scottsbluff.

11. Mexican – American War 1846-1848
First Major conflict connected to idea of Manifest Destiny
Mexico refuses to accept U.S. offer to purchase
Border dispute over strip of land between Nueces and Rio Grande River – Polk asks for a declaration of war from Congress

12. U.S. vs. Mexico
General Zachary Taylor Santa Anna

14. Mexican – American War General Zachary Taylor leads American Forces
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna leads Mexican Forces
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo signed in 1848, granting U.S. present day NV, UT, CA, and NM.
Mexico receives $15 million in compensation

15. Battles
Siege of Vera Cruz Resaca de la Palma

16. California Gold Rush
1848 – John Marshall discovers gold while working at Sutter’s Mill in Coloma, CA
1849 – President Polk confirms discovery of Gold to Congress – word spreads quickly throughout U.S.
Thousands head west in covered wagons in search of gold – given name 49ers
California cities and economies sprung up

17. California Gold Rush
Sutter’s Mill

18. Mining
Only a knife, pick, shovel and pan needed at first to pry gold from rocks
Dirt from rivers and creeks could be swirled in a pan and sifted
By 1852, most of the surface gold had been removed, and mining was no longer profitable

19. The Long Tom
Miners would shovel dirt into it, pour water over it, and rock it like a cradle. Lighter dirt and gravel was washed away, leaving heavier gold.

20. Panning for Gold
The sand and dirt would float in the water and could be poured off leaving heavy rocks, and hopefully gold.

21. John B.L. Soule/Horace Greeley
“Go West, Young Man, and Grow Up with the Country.”

22. Quiz #1
In 1843, people began traveling westward towards the Oregon territory. Eventually, over 200,000 people made this journey. This was called
A.) The Great Exodus
b.) The Great Migration
c.) The Great Journey
d.) The Great Trail

23. Quiz #2
Before the Americans settled the Oregon Territory, what country profited from the fur trade of this region?
A.) Great Britain
B.) Mexico
C.) Spain
D.) France

24. Quiz #3
What presidential candidate ran on the slogan “54 40 of Fight”, which was a reference to his desire for the U.S. to expand the Oregon Territory to the line of latitude?
A.) Andrew Jackson
B.) William Henry Harrison
C.) James K. Polk
D.) James Monroe

25. Quiz #4
Who was the American general that led troops into several battles during the Mexican American War?
A.) Zachary Taylor
B.) Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
C.) James K. Polk
D.) Andrew Jackson

26. Quiz #5 Who was the Mexican president during the Mexican-American War?
A.) Zachary Taylor
B.) Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
C.) James K. Polk
D.) Andrew Jackson

27. Quiz #6 What treaty ended the Mexican - American War?
A.) Treaty of Paris
B.) Treaty of Ghent
C.) Treaty of California
D.) Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

28. Quiz #7 In 1848, gold was discovered in what California location?
A.) Death Valley
B.) Los Angeles
C.) Sutter’s Mill
D.) San Diego

29. Quiz #8
List and explain one cause of the Mexican-American war.

30. Quiz #9
Describe two hardships that emigrants faced along the Oregon Trail.

31. Quiz #10
Explain how the gold rush changed the population and the economy of California.

32. Bonus
What new territory did the U.S. acquire as a result of the Mexican-American War?