1. Essential Question:
How did the American desire for Manifest Destiny lead to the acquisition of Texas, Oregon, & California?

2. In 1845, the USA annexed the independent nation of Texas
In the 1840s, America realized its “manifest destiny” by acquiring all lands to the Pacific Ocean
In 1845, the USA annexed the independent nation of Texas
In 1846, the U.S. settled a dispute with England to gain Oregon
In 1848, the USA gained new lands in the SW by winning the Mexican- American War

3. Stephen F Austin became one of the wealthiest “Anglos” in Texas
In 1821, Mexico won independence from Spain and the new Mexican gov’t welcomed Americans into Texas by offering cheap land
Stephen F Austin became one of the wealthiest “Anglos” in Texas

4. Americans refused to accept Mexican laws
They would not convert to Catholicism
They would not accept a ban on slavery
They wanted a voice in Mexican government

5. In 1835, Texans were in open rebellion against the Mexican government
By 1834, Mexican president Santa Anna began to view Anglos as a threat and had Austin arrested
In 1835, Texans were in open rebellion against the Mexican government

6. Texans lost at the Alamo, but the battle created inspiration: “Remember the Alamo!”

7. Jim Bowie
Davy Crockett

8. Texans, led by Sam Houston, captured Santa Anna and won their independence in 1836

9. From 1836 to 1845, Texas was an independent nation; Sam Houston was the first president of the Republic of Texas
In 1838, Houston invited the USA to annex Texas, but the debate over slavery kept America from adding Texas as a state

10. Timeline 1821 Mexican Independence 1820s-1830s Immigration of Anglos
Texas wants to declare independence from Mexico
1820s-1830s Immigration of Anglos
1824 America uphold Mexican Constitution
1829 Mexico outlawed slavery
1833 Santa Anna – overthrow of Constitution
War between Federalists (Mexicans and Americans who wanted Constitution back) and Santa Anna
1836 Texans declared independence
Battle of the Alamo
Santa Anna leads surprise attack on Texans
1845 US annexed Texas

11. Santa Anna (Mexican) led surprise attack on Texans at San Antonio
The Battle of the Alamo
Santa Anna (Mexican) led surprise attack on Texans at San Antonio
“Remember the Alamo!”
"Davy Crockett falls at Battle of the Alamo." Image. Library of Congress. American History. ABC-CLIO, Web. 8 Feb

12. Discussion Questions Why did Texans declare independence?
Were Texans justified in declaring independence?
Were these honorable men, fighting for freedom, or greedy slaveholders?
What evidence from the documents supports your position?
Which of these pieces of evidence do you find more/less trustworthy?
Why do historians still debate this question?
Once Texas declares and wins its independence, is the U.S. free to annex it? Why would Mexico object to the American annexation of Texas?

13. The Republic of Texas Texas Border Dispute
"Texas Claims and Mexican-American War Results." Map. American History. ABC-CLIO, Web. 8 Feb

14. Quick RECAP! Why did Texans declare independence from Mexico in 1836?
Why did Americans have mixed feelings about annexing the state of Texas?

15. He urged Congress to make Texas the 28th U.S. state in 1845
Democrat James K. Polk won the election of 1844 and became the “Manifest Destiny” president
He urged Congress to make Texas the 28th U.S. state in 1845
He wanted to end British claims to Oregon

16. When Texas was admitted into the Union in 1845, it came in as a slave state
To make Northerners happy, President Polk wanted to add Oregon as a free state, but…

17. But, the U.S. and Britain compromised, divided Oregon along 49° parallel, and Oregon became a free territory in 1846
Oregon residents & President Polk demanded the entire Oregon territory: “54°40’ or fight!”

18. When Texas won its independence from Mexico in 1836, the 2 sides disagreed over the territorial borders of the Republic of Texas
When the U.S. annexed Texas 9 years later, this land claim was not settled

19. The Mexican-American War (1846—1848)
This dispute led to the Mexican-American War from 1846 to 1848
In 1846, President Polk sent General Zachary Taylor across the Rio Grande River which provoked Mexico into war

20. The Mexican-American War
The U.S. quickly won the Mexican War
The Mexican-American War
Zachary Taylor won in northern Mexico
John C Fremont won in California
Stephen Kearney captured New Mexico
Winfield Scott captured Mexico City

21. Quote
“Mexico has passed the boundary of the U.S., has invaded our territory, and shed American blood upon American soil… War exists, and notwithstanding all out efforts to avoid it, exists by the acts of Mexico herself.” –Polk 1846

22. Opposition to Mexican-American War
Northern Whigs
Extension of slavery??
Lincoln asks had American blood had really been shed on American soil.
Civil Disobedience

23. all of Texas to the Rio Grande River
The Mexican-American War ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo in 1848
The USA gained
all of Texas to the Rio Grande River
Mexico gave up (ceded) territory in the Southwest, called the Mexican Cession
5 years later, the U.S. bought the Gadsden Purchase for $10 million to build a southern railroad

25. America: The Story of Us Western expansion (start at 6.40)

26. “Life on the Oregon Trail” Excerpt #1
“Pioneers along the Oregon Trail averaged 15 miles per day, almost exclusively on foot, for nearly 6 months”

27. Excerpt #2 “Covered wagons dominated traffic on the Oregon Trail
Excerpt #2 “Covered wagons dominated traffic on the Oregon Trail. The typical wagon was about 11 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 2 feet deep, with bows of hardwood supporting a bonnet that rose about 5 feet above the wagon bed. With only one set of springs under the driver's seat and none on the axles, nearly everyone walked along with their herds of cattle and sheep.”

28. Excerpt #3 “A typical day started before dawn with breakfast of coffee, bacon, and dry bread. The wagon was repacked in time to get underway by 7 o'clock. At noon, they stopped for a cold meal of coffee, beans, and bacon. Then back on the road again. Around 5 in the afternoon, they circled the wagons for the evening. The men secured the animals and made repairs while women cooked a hot meal of tea, boiled rice, and bacon”

29. Excerpt #4 “When the Trail got crowded (in 1849 and later) camping became more difficult. The biggest problem was finding fuel for the campfires. Soon trees were scarce and there was only one alternative: buffalo dung. No one liked collecting it, but it did burn and gave off a consistent odorless flame”

30. Excerpt #5 “Weather-related dangers included thunderstorms, hailstones, lightning, tornadoes, and high winds. The intense heat of the deserts caused wood to shrink & rims to fall of axles. The pioneers’ lips blistered and split in the dry air, and their only remedy was to rub axle grease on their lips. River crossings were often dangerous: even in slow currents & shallow water, wagon wheels could be damaged by rocks or become mired in the muddy bottom”

31. Excerpt #6 “Nearly 1 in 10 who set off on the Oregon Trail did not survive. The two biggest causes of death were disease and accidents. The worst disease was cholera, caused by unsanitary conditions. People in good spirits in the morning could be dead by evening. Symptoms started with an intense stomach ache, then came diarrhea and vomiting causing dehydration. If death did not occur within the first 12 to 24 hours, the victim usually recovered”

32. Excerpt #7 “Indians were usually the least of the pioneers’ problems
Excerpt #7 “Indians were usually the least of the pioneers’ problems. Tales of hostile encounters far overshadowed actual incidents. Indian conflicts occasionally resulted from trigger-happy emigrants who shot at Indians for target practice. A few massacres were highly publicized. The Ward Train was attacked by Shoshones who tortured & murdered 19 emigrants”

33. Manifest Destiny in the 1840s

34. In the 1830s, Mexico offered cheap land to American ranchers & farmers to move to California
When the Mexican War broke out in 1846, Californians revolted from Mexican rule and created an independent nation
The California Republic was annexed by the USA as part of the Mexican Cession in 1848

35. The discovery of gold in San Francisco led to a flood of Americans to California in 1849
“Forty-Niners” hoping to strike it rich came from the East, Latin America, Europe, & Asia

36. The California gold rush led to a population boom in the West
America: Story of US (Gold Rush)

37. Gold Fever & Immigration to CA was national

38. Gold Fever & Immigration to CA was Global
Where the 49ers Came From

39. San Francisco before the gold rush
San Francisco after the gold rush

40. By the end of the 1840s, the USA had achieved its Manifest Destiny
America had a “continental” empire from the Atlantic to Pacific
Westward expansion stimulated the economy, spread democracy, and increased U.S. nationalism
But as America spread West, sectional issues over slavery grew

41. Label and date each territory and create a symbol that explains how the USA gained the territory

43. Identify 10 major events or changes that took place in American history from 1800 to 1850 that impacted Westward Expansion