Motives for Expansion and Western Settlement Chapter 6 Section 2

 In the 1800s many Americans came to believe that their country was destined to expand westward.  They spoke of Manifest Destiny.  (The American Claim) is by the right of our manifest destiny to overspread and to possess the whole of the continent which Providence has given us for the development of the great experiment of liberty... -John O’Sullivan, Democratic Review -John O’Sullivan, Democratic Review

 Congress passed a number of laws to encourage settlement of the West.  By aiding both East and West, Congress hoped to tie the nation together as one economic unit.  The American System was an ambitious plan for linking the economic fortunes of the East and West in a scheme to build roads and canals.  Congress voted for a high tariff on European imports that would encourage westerners to buy their supplies from eastern manufacturers.

 Texas, Oregon, California, Southern Arizona and New Mexico were four western territories were added to the United States between 1845 and  Texas was the first new territory added to the United States in the 1840s.

Annexation of Texas  In the 1820s Texas was settled by only a few thousand Mexicans.  As a result, the Mexican government did not object when the open land attracted pioneer families from the United States.  Most were from the South and many owned slaves.  By the mid-1830s, however, there were more American settlers in Texas than Mexicans.

 The Americans often defied Mexico’s laws, including its ban against holding slaves.  When Mexico tried to stop further American immigration, the American settlers revolted and declared Texas an independent nation (1836).  Determined to put down the revolt, Mexican president Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna led troops into Texas.

 His forces overwhelmed and killed the Texan defenders who were occupying the Alamo, a church mission turned into a fort.  Soon afterward, however, during a battle on the San Jacinto River, the Texans captured Santa Anna, who was forced to grant their demand for independence.

 Texas was a completely a separate and independent nation: The Lone Star Republic for Nine years.  The proposed annexation of Texas failed to receive favorable votes in Congress and the chief obstacle was slavery. Was the reason for why it took so long for Texas to be admitted into the Union as a state.

Mexican American War  The annexation of Texas worsened U.S. relations with Mexico.  President Polk’s dream of expansion and America’s notion of Manifest Destiny.  There was also a dispute over the boundary between Texas and Mexico.  These two issues caused the War with Mexico.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, 1848  Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott were the two generals led the invasion into Mexico  The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, 1848 ended the Mexican War.  The terms of the treaty were the United States paid the token sum of $15 million to Mexico for the huge territory extending from Texas’s western border all the way to the California coast.  In addition, the United States agreed to relieve Mexico of the responsibility for paying the $3.2 million in debts to U.S. citizens.  The Rio Grande was established as the U.S. Mexican border.

Gold Rush in California  Soon after the war, an American settler discovered gold on his land.  News of the discovery touched off excitement in the East and throughout the world.  Fortune hunters poured into California in search of gold nuggets.  “California or bust” was the slogan of thousands of people who joined the great 1849 gold rush.

 Most met with disappointment but even so, California’s population grew so rapidly that it soon qualified to apply to Congress for statehood.  Because California proposed to be a nonslave, or free state, the South strongly opposed its admission.

Gadsden Purchase  The last section of land acquired from Mexico was won without violence.  This land the Gadsden Purchase was bought from Mexico in 1853 for $10 million.  James Gadsden was the American diplomat who arranged the transfer.

Dispute Over Oregon  The United States and Great Britain were at conflict over the Oregon territory.  The reasons why both nations did not want a war with each other over the Oregon Territory were that Great Britain wanted to preserve its good trade relations with the United States.  The United States, at war with Mexico in 1846, had no desire to see Great Britain go to Mexico’s aid.

 In 1844 many Americans wanted control of the entire Oregon Territory and would no longer accept a joint occupation.  They heartily approved of the Democratic campaign slogan: “Fifty-four forty or fight!” which meant: make Great Britain give up all of Oregon to the 54 40’ line.

Settlement  Diplomats on both sides managed to work out a compromise.  A British American Treaty of 1846 divided the Oregon Country into two roughly equal halves.  The northern half went to Great Britain.  The southern half (below the 49th parallel of latitude) went to the United States.  Two long term results of the treaty were that the border between Canada and the United States was extended to the Pacific Ocean and relations between Great Britain and the United States were much improved.

Impact of Western Expansion Upon Mexicans  Mexico lost land, natural resources, thousands Mexican citizens became citizens of the United States, many former Mexican landowners took low paying jobs as farm workers or as laborers in mines or the railroad.  This resulted in prejudices and discrimination towards Mexicans from Americans.

Impact of Western Expansion Upon Native Americans  Spreading of diseases in which Native Americans had no immunity which caused Native American populations to be severely reduced.  Destruction of wildlife like the buffalo and settlers increasingly taking Native American s’ lands, resulted in a series of wars as Native Americans fought to defend their territory.  Eventually they were forced to give up their lands and move to reservations.