1. Manifest Destiny:
First proclaimed in the 1840s by journalist John L. O’Sullivan, it is the idea that the U.S. has a God-given right to expand across North America and eventually to dominate the Western Hemisphere. It was the argument used whenever the U.S. wanted to take over new territory from Spain, England, Mexico or the many Indian tribes. American Progress by John Gast. (1872) - showing Columbia and civilization moving westward.

2. Church of the Latter Day Saints = Mormons (out of Second Great Awakening & the “burned over district” of W. NY and Ohio.)
These gold tablets were supposedly left by one of the 7 lost tribes of Israel. Smith translated these plates into the Book of Mormon.

3. Saints move West
The Mormons were persecuted in Western NY and moved to Illinois. Here Joseph Smith was killed. Brigham Young led 10,000 Mormons to the Great Salt Lake in Utah in 1847.

4. TEXAS
Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821 (remember Monroe Doctrine 1823?).
In an attempt to develop and protect Mexico’s northern border, General Santa Anna invited Americans to purchase land in Texas.

5. Texas and the Mexican War
Texas Independence: After the Louisiana Purchase, many Americans moved to the eastern part of the Mexican state of Texas to grow cotton. By 1830, Mexico, alarmed at number of immigrants (about 20,000 whites and 1,000 black slaves), sent troops to block further settlement. The action failed. In 1835, the “Anglos” (or “Gringos”) numbered about 30,000 and decided that they wanted independence from Mexico. Texans rebelled and declared independence. The Mexican Army, under Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, annihilated the rebels at the Alamo (a San Antonio Catholic mission) in early 1836, but was defeated at the Battle of San Jacinto. Captured by Sam Houston's troops, Santa Anna bought his freedom by granting Texan independence.

6. Texas Independence
The Alamo 187 Texans were killed by the Mexican Army. “Remember the Alamo” became the rallying cry of Texas Independence.

7. Texas Independence
Sam Houston & Texans defeat General Santa Anna at the battle of San Jacinto. Texas applied for statehood. Pres. Jackson refuses. Why? TX 9 - year nation.

8. GONZALES - 1 GOLIAD - 3 ALAMO - 2 SAN JACINTO - 4
BATTLES FOR TEXAS INDEPENDENCE
GONZALES - 1
As the battles begin,
the Texan army has its
first victory against
the poorly led Mexican
army at this military
outpost. Santa Anna then
reorganizes and rebuilds
the Mexican army.
GOLIAD - 3
The Mexican army next
overwhelms Texan troops
in the town of Goliad and
executes 300 Texans by
firing squad.
ALAMO - 2
The newly reorganized
Mexican army storms
the Spanish mission,
the Alamo. The Texans
fight the Mexicans but
are eventually overrun.
SAN JACINTO - 4
The Texan army launches
a final surprise attack
and conquers the Mexican
forces. The Texans yell
“Remember the Alamo”
and “Remember Goliad”
as they kill and capture
hundreds of Mexicans,
including Santa Anna.

9. After the war, Texans voted overwhelmingly in favor of annexation by the U.S. Congress delayed annexation because northerners opposed slavery in Texas. In the 1844 election, Polk made annexation of Texas a central campaign pledge. When Polk won, Pres. John Tyler presented Congress with a resolution to annex the territory. Congress annexed Texas in 1845.
Sam Houston
Davy Crockett at the Alamo

10. Manifest Destiny was fueled by Economic considerations, religious motives, and nationalistic pride.
Google the following subject and read
the first 4 essays. (You will have to click “next” at the bottom of each slide.) 
“Manifest Destiny – The Philosophy
That Created A Nation”

11. Webster-Ashburton Treaty 1842
Settled minor boundary disputes between Canada (GB) and U.S. (Maine – more moose and Minnesota – Mesabi Range – massive iron ore deposits!)

12. Webster-Ashburton Treaty (1842): President Harrison's death made John Tyler Pres. Not a true Whig, he was unsuccessful in domestic politics and so focused on foreign policy. His Secretary of State Daniel Webster settled a dispute with England along the border with British North America (later Canada). The treaty granted the U.S. nearly 60% of the disputed land in Maine and Upstate New York, as well as in Minnesota where the border jutted up from the 49th Parallel to give the U.S. access to what later proved to be a region rich in iron-ore, the Mesabi Range.

13. Election of 1844 – James K. Polk
A Democrat from TN and a close friend of
of Andrew Jackson.
Nickname: “Little Hickory” and the
“Napoleon of the Stump.”
He was a “darkhorse” candidate since
very little was known about him.

14. James K. Polk 11th. President
“Mr. Manifest Destiny”
Election of 1844 – promised to accomplished 4 things in 4 years and not run for re-election:
1. Reduce the tariff.
2. Establish an independent Treasury (no B.U.S)
3. Settle the Oregon dispute with G.B. (“54° 40’
or fight!”) U.S. wants all of Oregon Territory – Pacific NW.
4. Add California to the Union (one way or another.)

15. Oregon Territory
The U.S. & G.B. co-possessed the Oregon Territory (from Spanish California to the 54° 40’ )
(U.S. land claims date
back to Lewis & Clark
1805.)

16. Oregon Territory 1846 Americans began moving into the Oregon Territory
in the 1840’s.

17. “Fifty-four Forty or Fight” / Re-Annexation of Texas”: Slogans of Democratic candidate James K. Polk in Capitalizing on the nationalist sentiment, Polk insisted that Britain give up its claim to the Oregon Country or face war with America. The Oregon Country (Idaho, Washington, and Oregon) had become an important center for the profitable fur trade after John Jacob Astor founded Astoria in Upon winning the election, the Polk Administration negotiated a settlement with the British without war. Neither side really wanted to go to war over Oregon and Polk wanted California which meant conflict with Mexico. A compromise extended the boundary between Canada and the U.S. along the 49th Parallel.
Polk.

18. Slidell Mission Pres. Polk sent James Slidell to MX to negotiate
Texas border dispute and purchase CA.
Mexicans refused to negotiate with Slidell who
hinted that military action might be used.

19. Mexican War: Annexing Texas joined a long list of grievances Mexico had with the U.S., including years of American intrigue trying to take over the Mexican province of California. It also opened up a border dispute in Texas. Mexicans claimed the Texas border was the Nueces River, while Americans insisted on the Rio Grande. President Polk ordered General Zach Taylor to send a small company of soldiers to the Rio Grande and camp out. General Santa Anna took this as an invasion and sent Mexican forces to remove the U.S. troops.

20. With this clash, Polk declared that “American blood had been spilled on U.S. soil” and demanded Congress declare war. A young Whig Representative know as Abraham Lincoln opposed a war resolution by challenging President Polk to show the exact “spot” on a map where U.S. blood had been spilled on U.S. soil. Congress declared war. U.S. forces led by Generals Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott quickly defeated the Mexicans, notably at Monterey and Buena Vista (1847), forced Mexico to sue for peace.

21. Opposition to MX/AM War
Many Northerners saw this war as an attempt to further expand slave-
based agriculture and “Slave – Power” of the South in Congress.
Northern Whigs – Abraham Lincoln (IL) “Spot Resolution” challenge in
Congress.
Northern Democrats – John Quincy Adams (MA) resounding “NO” to
Declaration of War in Congress.
Free Soil Party – David Wilmot (PA) – Wilmot Proviso – demand that
Congress forbid slavery in every territory taken from Mexico.
Transcendentalists – H.D. Thoreau –jailed for refusing to pay his taxes in
protest to the war and expansion of slavery. Wrote a book called
Civil Disobedience.

22. Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo - 1848
U.S. gets … Mexico gets …
MX Cession ( > 500,000 sq. miles) $15 million
TX boundary to Rio Grande.

23. What are your thought on President Polk ?
Land added by President Polk – 1849
What are your thought on President Polk ?

24. Gold!!
Within a few months of California’s annexation (1848), gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill on the American River near Sacramento and San Francisco. This set off the great gold rush of 1849 …. Forty Niners anyone!? Levi blue jeans and Clipper ships. Clayton-Bulwer Treaty – Panama Canal.

25. Forty-Niners By 1849 nearly 100,000 people migrated to CA
by land & sea.
Ordinance 1787 –
statehood.

26. Routes
The rush to get to CA gold fields will have a huge impact on future U.S. policy.
Transcontinental RR.
Panama Canal. (Clayton -Bulwer Treaty.)
Conflict with remaining Indians.
Development of
Clipper Ships.

27. Coming soon …. Sectional Troubles
Gag rule – 1830 – 1844 Congress passed several “gag”
rules prohibiting the discussion of slavery on the
House/Senate floor.
Great Triumvirate – 3 statesmen who dominated U.S.
politics (U.S. Senate) for twenty years (1830 – 1850).
1. Henry Clay (KY)
2. Daniel Webster (MA)
3. John C. Calhoun (SC)