American Expansion

"It is America's right to stretch from sea to shining sea "It is America's right to stretch from sea to shining sea. Not only do we have a responsibility to our citizens to gain valuable natural resources we also have a responsibility to civilize this beautiful land." Read and discuss this quote with students as a group. Do they agree?

"America has no right to take the lands west of the Louisiana Territory. Those lands are rightfully owned by Mexico and to enter into conflict with the Mexicans just to expand and take that land would violate the principles of this great nation." Read and discuss. Do the students agree or disagree?

Northwest Territory Acquired after the French & Indian War In 1783, Britain gave up all lands east of the Mississippi. This was part of the Treaty of Paris. Print out the rest of the slides and use them as placards. In groups, students will rotate through the placards and fill out the information in their graphic organizer.

Louisiana Purchase Purchased from France in 1803 Gained all territory from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains Doubled the size of the United States

Purchase of Florida Purchased from Spain in 1819 Cost = $5 million

Manifest Destiny America’s destiny to extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean Americans were “chosen” to spread Christianity and democracy Make our country stronger and richer

Manifest Destiny Political Spread democracy: people act as the government Economic Many resources in western territory Farm land in Texas and gold in California Religious Spread Christianity Social God-given right to occupy the entire continent Intellectual Industrial Revolution inventions and better education system Area (Geographic ): Control the land from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean

Transcontinental Railroad http://www.history.com/topics/inventions/transcontinental-railroad

Oregon Territory In 1818, Great Britain and the United States both controlled the Oregon Territory Thousands of pioneers traveled along the Oregon Trail in the 1840’s President James K. Polk compromised with Britain and split the territory of Oregon with Canada

The Mormons in Utah The Mormons were found in upstate New York by Joseph Smith 1830 during the “Second Great Awakening” Driven out of Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois because of their beliefs in polygamy Brigham Young led the westward to the Great Salt Lake in Utah in 1847 In 1877, 125,000 Mormons lived in Utah

The Annexation of Texas A group of Americans reached an agreement with the Mexican government Anglo-American settlers increased Mexico banned Americans from settling Texas Disputes between American settlers and Mexican government lead to a war

The Annexation of Texas Texas Wins Independence in 1836 James K. Polk promised to annex Texas if elected president Pros – allow for more westward expansion and good land for cotton Cons – Texas would be a slave state and could lead to a war with Mexico

U.S.-Mexican War (1846-1848)

U.S.-Mexican War (1846-1848) Causes: A dispute about the southern border of Texas; Rio Grande or Nueces? President Polk sent troops to the disputed area Results: U.S. troops defeated Mexico and forced them to give up California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and parts of Colorado and New Mexico Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, US paid $15 million for these areas known as the Mexican Cession

Gadsden Purchase (1853)

Gadsden Purchase (1853) The US purchased a small piece of land for $10 million from Mexico Why was this small area so valuable? Linked the south with the Pacific Coast via the railroad

California Gold Rush 1848; gold was discovered in California Word spread and thousands of 49ers arrived in California the following year By 1850, San Francisco had grown to a population of 100,000

Westward Expansion Challenges More Land = More Problems Slavery? Permit or Prohibit Congressional Representation? Slave States = Free States