1. Completing the Picture The continued growth of the United States

2. Manifest Destiny  The idea that it was the American RIGHT to take land desired for the expansion of the U.S. territories as well as to spread democracy.

3. Ripe for expansion:  The Oregon Territory  Texas  “California”

5. The Oregon Treaty  1846—James K. Polk signed an agreement with Great Britain to split the Oregon Territory on the 49 th parallel. England controlled the land north of the 49 th parallel, and the United States controlled the land to the south.

6.  This settled the boundary dispute between competing claims by Great Britain and the United States that had been an issue since 1818.

7. The Western Territory  Americans had been settling this Mexican possession well before it became a part of the U.S. They were drawn to it due to stories, letters, books, paintings, and songs.

8.  It was only the charm (laziness) of the people that kept California from being great. ~Richard Henry Dana ~Richard Henry Dana Two Years Before the Mast 1840 1840

9. “California”  Polk approached the Mexican government with an offer to purchase the land since Americans were settling there, but he was refused.

10. TEXAS  Huge tract of land---almost empty –WHY?  No GOLD  No REAL FREEDOM

11. Santa Anna  Mexican dictator who dictator who did not want did not want any more any more English speaking English speaking Americans in Americans in Texas Texas

12. They did it anyway…  Which led to skirmishes between American rebels and Mexican settlements.  Santa Anna’s troops marched against the rebels, leading to a little something we call…

13. The Alamo

14. Jim Bowie

15. David “Davy” Crockett

16. Results American Rebels held out for twelve days…but fell to Santa Anna’s men. All perished but one slave of Crockett and 20 or so women and children. “Remember the Alamo” became the rallying cry for American settlers wanting independence.

17. Sam Houston

18. Houston’s resume:  Adopted by Cherokee Indians  Lawyer  Congressman  Governor of Tennessee  Indian trader in Texas

19. Victory Against Santa Anna  Battle of San Jacinto-- Sam Houston rode into the battle on April 21, 1836  Lasted a whopping 18 minutes  Santa Anna’s men defeated due to a siesta  Independence for Texas for Texas established with established with treaty treaty

21. The Lone Star State  Independent nation for nearly a decade—The Republic of Texas  Wanted to become part of the U.S. but one issue stood in its way…slavery.  1845—admitted as a state of the United States of America

22. The Mexican War  Border dispute—Rio Grande or Nueces River?  Polk sent in troops to Texas  Prominent Americans spoke out against war—Douglass, Whitman, Thoreau, Clay, Lincoln  Skirmishes occurred in California as well  Resulted in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

23.  The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed on February 2, 1848, ended the war and gave the U.S ~undisputed control of Texas, ~established the U.S.-Mexican border of the Rio Grande River, Treaty of Guadalupe HidalgoTreaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ~ceded to the United States California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Wyoming. ~ceded to the United States California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Wyoming.

24.  In return, Mexico received $15,000,000. This exchange is known as the Mexican Cession. Mexicans living in the conquered lands could choose to return to Mexico or stay and become American citizens. Mexican CessionMexican Cession

25. 1853--The Gadsden Purchase –The U.S. paid $10 million to Mexico to purchase what is now southern Arizona and southern New Mexico for the construction of a southern route for a transcontinental railroad.

26. Deal, Or No Deal?  Deal!  ‘There’s GOLD in them thar hills!!’ them thar hills!!’ …and an abundance of natural resources, too!