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 Mexicans
James Bowie and Davie Crockett were killed

5. Independence Rebels declared independence on March 2nd, 1836
Sam Houston regrouped men as General of Texan Army
Santa Anna defeated April 21st, 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 49th 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 13th, 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