1. The Final Chapter in Manifest Destiny Ch. 9 Sect. 3/4
Mexican – American War
The Final Chapter in Manifest Destiny
Ch. 9 Sect. 3/4

2. Texas and the Southwest
Mexican Independence (1821) opened the door for settlers and traders to move into Mexican territories.
Mission System
Under this Spanish system, only a few thousand Mexican settlers in present-day Texas
Spanish used Roman Catholic missions to convert Native Americans
Mexico offers mission lands to government officials, ranchers

3. Impact of Mexican Independence
Mexico Encourages trade between US and Northern provinces
Native American groups threaten scattered Mexican settlements
Mexico Invites U.S. Settlers
To protect the territory, Mexico encourages US farmers to go to Texas
Offers land grants to empresarios (agents) who sell land cheaply
Until 1830’s, Anglo settlers live as naturalized Mexican citizens

5. Austin in Texas
Stephan F. Austin, successful empresario, establishes colony in 1821
“Old 300” get 177 farming acres or 4,428 grazing acres! (That’s a lot…)
US wants lands south to Rio Grande; Mexico refuses to sell Texas

6. Texas Fights for Independence “Come to Texas”
Cultural differences arise between Anglos and Mexico:
Anglos speak English, not Spanish
Southerners bring slaves (outlawed in Mexico)
1830’s – Anglos greatly outnumber Tejanos
Mexican President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna imprisons Austin
Revokes local powers; rebellions erupt, including Texas Revolution

7. “Remember the Alamo!”
Santa Anna marches army to Texas; Austin tells Texans to arm themselves
Santa Anna storms Alamo (old mission); all 187 defenders were killed

8. Fall of the Alamo- Robert Jenkins 1903

9. Bowie became internationally famous as a result of a feud with Norris Wright, the sheriff of Rapides Parish. Bowie had supported Wright's opponent in the race for sheriff, and Wright, a bank director, had been instrumental in turning down a Bowie loan application.[27] After a confrontation in Alexandria one afternoon, Wright fired a shot at Bowie. After which Bowie resolved to carry his hunting knife at all times.[28] The knife he carried had a blade that was 9.25 inches (23.5 cm) long and 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) wide.[29]
The following year, on September 19, 1827, Bowie and Wright attended a duel on a sandbar outside of Natchez, Mississippi. Bowie supported duellist Samuel Levi Wells III, while Wright supported Wells's opponent, Dr. Thomas Harris Maddox. The duellists each fired two shots and, as neither man had been injured, resolved their duel with a handshake.[30][31] Other members of the groups, who had various reasons for disliking each other, began fighting. Bowie was shot in the hip; after regaining his feet he drew a knife, described as a butcher knife, and charged his attacker, who hit Bowie over the head with his empty pistol, breaking the pistol and knocking Bowie to the ground. Wright shot at and missed the prone Bowie, who returned fire and possibly hit Wright. Wright then drew his sword cane and impaled Bowie. When Wright attempted to retrieve his blade by placing his foot on Bowie's chest and tugging, Bowie pulled him down and disemboweled Wright with his large knife.[32][33] Wright died instantly, and Bowie, with Wright's sword still protruding from his chest, was shot again and stabbed by another member of the group. The doctors who had been present for the duel retrieved the bullets and patched Bowie's other wounds.

11. The Lone Star Republic Texas Joins the Union
Sam Houston defeats, captures Santa Anna at Battle of San Jacinto
Treaty of Velasco grants independence to Texas (April 1836)
Houston becomes President of the Republic of Texas
Texas Joins the Union
1838, Houston invites US to annex, or incorporate, Texas
South favors, North opposes annexation; Texas becomes state in 1845

12. The War with Mexico
Tensions over the US annexation of Texas leads to war with Mexico, resulting in huge territorial gains for the US.
Polk Urges War
“Polk the Purposeful”
Pres. James K. Polk favors war with Mexico
Believes US will get Texas, New Mexico, California
Slidell’s Rejections
Polk sends John Slidell to buy SW, negotiate Texas borders
Santa Anna ousted; Mexican govt. unstable, ignores Slidell
Polk orders Gen. Zachary Taylor to blockade the Rio Grande

13. Sectional Attitudes Toward War
South favors war to extend slavery, increase power in Congress (remember the Missouri Compromise of 1820??)
North opposes, fears spread of slavery and southern control of US
The War Begins
Polk Provokes War
US repeatedly violates Mexico’s territorial rights
Mexican, US soldiers skirmish near Matamoros; 9 American killed
Polk sends war message to Congress, withholds facts
Congress approves war, stifles opposition

15. Republic of California
Kearny Marches West
Polk orders Col. Stephen Kearny to march to Santa Fe
N. Mexico surrenders without a fight
Republic of California
1830’s – 12,000 Mexican settlers in California; 1840’s, 500 Americans
John C. Frémont proclaims Republic of California in 1846
Frémont joined by Kearny and Commodore John D. Sloat’s naval expedition

17. America Gains the Spoils of War Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
The War in Mexico
US has many victories; Mexican troops have poor leaders
Invasion of Mexico led by Gen. Zachary Taylor, Winfield Scott
Polk helps Santa Anna regain power (what?), but fights US (duh!)
America Gains the Spoils of War
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
US/Mexico sign treaty in 1848
Texas border set at Rio Grande
Mexico ceded western lands for $15 million
Guarantees rights of Mexicans living in territories
War enlarges US territory by 1/3
Franklin Pierce authorizes 1853 Gadsden Purchase, sets final border

19. Taylor’s Election in 1848 Democrats split over slavery issue
Whig’s nominee, war hero Zachary Taylor wins easily

20. Eureka!!! The California Gold Rush The Rush Begins
1848 – Gold found at Sutter’s mill in CA Sierra Nevadas
San Francisco residents abandon city to pan for gold
Gold rush, or migration of prospectors to California in 1849
49ers, gold prospectors, come from Asia, S. America, Europe
Impact of Gold Fever
San Francisco become supply center for miners; becomes major port
Eureka: “I have found it!” Archimedes. State Motto

21. 2. East Coast Newspaper clipping as a Settlers guide to California
Dutch Flat Gold Mining Hydrolic Mining
Sutter’s Mill

23. Gold Rush Brings Diversity
1849 – CA pop. Exceeds 100,000
Chinese, free blacks, Mexicans migrate in large numbers
Slavery permitted until constitutional convention
CA joins union in 1850