Territorial Expansion Moving West

Manifest Destiny The belief that God has ordained that Americans should expand west

Native Americans Black Hawk War Treaty of Fort Laramie Fought over rights to land; continued pattern of Native American groups being pushed farther west by white settlers Treaty of Fort Laramie Land guarantees to the some bands of the Lakota people; included encouragements to “civilize” the tribes

Border Disputes (Oregon and Trails) Oregon Territory The U.S. and Britain had been sharing the Oregon Territory. The U.S. wanted to keep the entire territory (“54 40 or fight!”) but eventually decided to give up the land because it was not great for farming Mormon Trail To escape religious persecution Santa Fe Trail To trade Oregon Trail To set up schools and missions

Border Disputes (Mexico and Texas) Mexican Land grants to settlers Mexico grants land to white American settlers in present day Texas to cut down on Native American attacks in the area

The Texas Revolution, the Republic of Texas, Texas becomes a state *Alamo*San Jacinto The Republic of Texas Texas Annexation North South

War with Mexico Mexican American War Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, 1848 North? No! We don’t want to expand slavery! South? Yes! Let’s fight! More land could equal more slavery! Mexican American War America gains the spoils of war – Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, 1848

Texas Annexation By March 1845 Congress approved Texas Annexation Texas: 28th state in December of 1845. Mexico: cutting off all diplomatic ties with the U.S.

Boundary Dispute Rio Grande boundary Nueces River boundary

Steps to War June 1845- President Polk ordered General Zachary Taylor take U.S. troops into disputed border region to protect Texas from possible Mexican attack

Steps to War Polk sent diplomat John Slidell to purchase CA & NM ($30 million) Mexican officials refused to meet with Slidell John Slidell

Steps to War March 1846 – General Taylor’s troops made camp in disputed territory April 1846 – Mexican commander insisted U.S. troops must leave area Taylor refused to move Mexican forces crossed the Rio Grande and attacked group of 63 U.S. soldiers 11 Americans killed

Steps to War May 11, 1846 – Polk addressed Congress “Mexico has shed American blood upon the American soil.” Congress declared war on Mexico

Support of the War Greater national pride Spread republican values Southerners: Any territory won = slave states

Opposition to the War Conflict was unjustified Northerners: any territory gained = slave states Illinois Congressman Abraham Lincoln wrote the “Spot Resolutions” in 1848– asking Polk to show the spot where American blood had been shed on American soil

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) Forced on Santa Anna and Mexico Southern boundary of Texas set at the Rio Grande Mexico ceded: Present-day states of California, Nevada, and Utah Most of Arizona and New Mexico Parts of Colorado and Wyoming U.S. agreed to pay $15 million to Mexico and pay debts of Mexico to U.S. citizens

Gold! California Gold Rush People come from all over the world in 1849 Looking for gold is difficult work How did this affect California and the United States? Population EXPLOSION in California. California will be the first U.S. territory in the land won from Mexico to apply for statehood. Could this upset the balance of free vs. slave states???...