WESTWARD EXPANSION AND THE MEXICAN AMERICAN WAR. Unit Objectives: Describe the causes, course, and consequences of America's westward expansion and its growing diplomatic assertiveness. Use a map of North America to trace America's expansion to the Civil War, including the location of the Santa Fe and Oregon trails. Analyze the causes of the continuing westward expansion of the American people after the Civil War and the impact of this migration on the Indians.

AMERICANS HEAD WEST.

THE FRONTIER DRAWS SETTLERS Based on the ideals of manifest destiny many Americans believed that God wanted the United States to expand across the continent. They felt that Americans were meant to control the West and to expand our borders. Americans headed west for the following reasons: Escape religious persecution. Find new markets for goods. Claim land for farming, ranching and mining. Seek employment and escape financial problems. Spread democracy.

MANIFEST DESTINY

GOING WEST Settlers used several major routes as they moved west. The trails were a combination of old Native American trails and new routes. The settlers traveled in large groups using Conestoga Wagons. Life in the west and on the Great Plains was difficult. People lived in earthen structures and had to deal with difficult and dangerous conditions. New technologies such as the expansion of railroads and the emergence of new farming equipment made life easier.

GOING WEST

TRAILS WEST

CONFLICTS EMERGE Conflicts emerged between the settlers and Native Americans. These conflicts resulted in Native Americans loosing land and being forced to sign unfair treaties. Conflicts also emerged with Great Britain over land in Oregon. After Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821, they offered land to Americans in Texas. The American settlers were unwilling to follow Mexican laws and many also brought slaves. This led to a brief war between the Texans and Mexico. As a result of the Texans gaining their independence from Mexico the United States and Mexico clashed over Texas becoming a state and territories in the west. After the war the United States gained a large amount of land. This land included present-day California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, most of Arizona, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming.

CONFLICTS EMERGE

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

AMERICA EXPANDS FURTHER WEST Five years later, in 1853, the United States bought more land from Mexico. This deal was known as the Gadsden Purchase. This set the current borders of the lower 48 states. In 1848, American settlers discovered gold in California. Thousands of people streamed into California in search of gold. This mass migration became known as the great gold rush. As a result of the gold rush, California’s population exploded. By 1849, California’s population exceeded 100,000. California applied for statehood as a state that outlawed slavery. California’s application for statehood provoked much debate in Congress. It became just one more sore point between Northerners and Southerners—each intent on winning the argument over slavery.

AMERICA EXPANDS FURTHER WEST