1. Manifest Destiny

2. Texas Stephen Austin – Founded colony of several hundred families – Petitioned for statehood

3. Santa Anna – Mexican dictator – Abolished state government

4. The Alamo, December 1835 – Settlers rebelled against Santa Anna – 200 settlers fought for 13 days against 4000+ Mexicans – James Bowie and Davie Crockett were killed

5. Independence – Rebels declared independence on March 2 nd, 1836 – Sam Houston regrouped men as General of Texan Army – Santa Anna defeated April 21 st, at San Jacinto River – Sam Houston elected first President of the Lone Star Republic

6. Oregon Country Stretched from northern California to southern Alaska Many Americans traveled there along the OREGON TRAIL James Polk Big supporter of expansion Won the Presidency with the help of the Liberty Party (1844) D. U.S. annexed Oregon (south of the 49 th parallel) in 1846

7. War with Mexico Polk annexed Texas in February of 1845 Mexico considered it an act of war A skirmish broke out between Mexico and the U.S. – Americans killed at the Rio Grande River Congress declared war on Mexico, May 13 th, 1846

8. TREATY OF GUADALUPE HIDALGO – Mexico gave up claim to Texas once and for all – Rio Grande River established as southern border of U.S. – Mexico lost California and New Mexico (including land that is now Utah, Arizona and Nevada – U.S. paid Mexico $15 million

9. Other Territories California – Declared independence from Mexico in June, 1846 – Gold discovered on John Sutter’s land in 1848 – 1849 California Gold Rush – Many single, white men rushed to California to make their fortune – 49ers

10. Gadsen Purchase (1853) – Purchased from Mexico – Needed to complete the Southern Transcontinental Railroad

11. Final Checklist 1763 – French and Indian War took us to the Appalachians 1786 – American Revolution took us to the Mississippi 1803 – Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the U.S. 1804 – Lewis and Clark explored the Northwest Territory 1845 – The U.S. annexed Texas 1846 – The U.S. annexed Oregon 1848 – U.S. won California, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada and Arizona 1849 – California taken because of gold rush 1853 – Gadsen Purchase