1. Manifest Destiny

2. President James K. Polk
President Polk strongly favored acquiring Texas and Oregon.
When he became President he set out to fulfill his promise to annex Texas and Oregon

3. Oregon Oregon was claimed by both the United States and Britain.
The U.S. and Britain disagreed over where a border would divide the territory.
American Expansionists wanted it at 54 degrees, 40 minutes north

4. 49th Parallel
Since neither side wanted war, the boundary set at the 49th parallel, or 49 degrees north latitude.
Oregon became organized in 1848

5. Annexation of Texas Congress approved of annexing Texas in 1845
This action angered the Mexican government
Mexico considered Texas as the “stolen province.”

6. Mexican War 1846-1848 Mexico and the US disagreed over the boundary.
Mexico claimed the Nueces River.
The US claimed the Rio Grande.
Mexican troops attacked US troops between the two rivers.

7. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Official end to the Mexican War.
Much of Northern Mexico turned over to the US.
Known as the Mexican Cession
US gave Mexico 15 million dollars.
American settlers move to the West in great numbers.

8. Mexican and Native American Contributions
Names of Cities and Towns.
Celebration of American and Mexican Holidays.
Ranching, saddles, equipment.
Adobe for building
Hand woven blankets
Exchange of Ideas

9. Water Rights Limitation on building dams
No restriction of rivers water.
Canals built to direct water to dry areas.
Water for the good of the community.

10. Impact of the California Gold Rush
Many people rushed to California to get rich.
Oregon Trail
California Trail
Mining Camps
Mining towns started.
Inflated Prices
Increase in immigration

11. African Americans and the West
Examples of Success In the West
Negro Hill – two African Miners found a rich Gold Deposit that became known as Negro Hill and they became rich
Biddy Mason- came to California as a slave then gained her freedom, she then moved to LA saved money bought some land and became a community leader and one of the wealthiest land owners in California