The idea that Providence (God) has ordained that it is the natural course of things that Americans will occupy this continent from one coast to the other.

Oregon California Utah New Mexico Gadsden Purchase Minnesota Texas

Trumped-up war. U.S. wanted the Rio Grande as

the border, Mexico believed the Nueces River (150 miles north) was the true border.

Polk sends army south of the Nueces River to incite battle on “our soil”

Mexico loses vast amount of territory

President Polk had a 3-part plan: 1) drive Mexicans away from

border area & secure the border 2) seize New Mexico and

California 3) take the Mexican capital –

Mexico City

…the Panic of 1837 causes depression and people in the Mississippi Valley are hard hit…

This starts the “Great Migration” of “emigrants” leaving the U.S. to enter the Oregon Territory in Conestoga wagons (“Prairie Schooners”)

British agree to “joint occupancy” but are facing “manifest destiny” “Fifty-four forty or fight!” (border at 49° N. Latitude)

January 24, 1848 –James Marshall finds gold on the American River near Sutter’s Mill

800,000 come to California in 1849 alone “Forty-niners”come west on the

Oregon & Santa Fe Trails and by steamer Influx creates “boomtowns” overnight Most found little or no gold- most who

made money sold supplies, etc. to miners California’s statehood delayed until 1850

in conflict over free/slave Gold rush has long-lasting effects

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Joseph Smith, founder, 1830, New York

State Belief in shared property, polygamy Moved on to Ohio, Missouri, then Illinois 1844 Brigham Young takes over when

Smith is killed by angry mob in Illinois Leads Mormons to The Great Salt Lake in

Utah Named their settlement “Deseret”-hard

work

Influx of Irish and Germans in 1820-1860 changes the country’s character

Prior immigrants had been mainly British protestants or slaves

Now Irish & German Catholics People opposed to immigration known as

“NATIVISTS”-immigration threatens “native” Americans =Xenophobia (fear of foreigners)

Immigrants targets of prejudice

Abolitionists American Colonization Society—buy

slaves then set them free…some to Liberia

William Lloyd Garrison-Boston newspaper, the Liberator.

The Grimke Sisters The Underground Railroad

July, 1848 Women’s rights convention “Declaration of Sentiments and

Resolutions” that was modeled on the Declaration of Independence

Called to an end to all discriminatory laws Most controversial issue was

Women’s suffrage (the right to vote)

organized system of aiding runaway slaves to travel to the North

Harriet Tubman “Follow the Drinking Gourd” Travel by night (neither underground nor a railroad)

Enslaved African taken to free territory…then returned to Missouri (slave state) –he sues

Chief Justice Roger B. Taney-Scott is a slave (property) so not a citizen—no rights

Neither Congress nor states (by popular sovriegnity) could ban slavery—

In effect---this decision says the Constitution protects slavery

October, 1859—abolitionis John Brown leads a raid on the arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, VA.

He hoped to start a rebellion against slaveholders by arming slaves.

He is quickly defeated—executed by hanging His death rallies abolitionists—martyrdom Incident fuels the Southern idea of a “great

Northern Conspiracy” against them

May, 1854 Abandon the Missouri Compromise and

allow popular sovriegnity (the people vote) to choose if new state would be free or slave

Supporters of both sides rush to territories –great fighting ensues—two governments elected!

“Bleeding Kansas”

Fighting on home ground to protect lifestyle

Strong support of their people

Better military leadership (at first)

Manufacturing --industry Greater population More abundant resources Better banking system More ships—Navy Larger railway network Lincoln!

Bring the Confederate States back into the Union

Later…to end slavery

The Plan: 1. Blockade & control Southern ports 2. control the Mississippi to split the

South and control supply lines 3. capture the Confederate capital at

Richmond, Virginia

Battle of Gettysburg –Genersal Meade in pursuit of Lee’s army…Lincoln wanted Washington & Baltimore protected…accidentally meet in Gettysburg

“Pickett’s Charge”-less than half the rebels return-utter failure-loss of battle

U.S. Grant & seige of Vicksburg- control of Mississippi River-seals off Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas

William Tecumseh Sherman-Chattanooga U.S. Grant’s plan to attack on ALL fronts Takes Cold Harbor (great loss of life)

begins siege of Petersburg --after 9-months-- railroad center-cuts off Richmond

David Farragut leads Union fleet into Mobile Bay-control of the Gulf of Mexico

Grant captures Atlanta Sherman’s “March to the Sea”-wages

“TOTAL WAR” against South on the way to Savannah, Georgia Siege finally succeeds in Petersburg, Richmond falls the next day,

Robert E. Lee’s Army is cut off-so, April 9, 1865- Lee surrenders to Grant at Appomattox Court House

Destroyed farms and factories

Destroyed railroads Caused shortages of food

& other goods Caused inflation

Ten Percent Plan-when 10% of the voters in a state took an oath of loyalty to the Union that state could elect a new gov’t & write a new constitution (banning slavery)

Lincoln favored amnesty-did not want to punish the South

Radical Republicans though Lincoln’s plan was too mild so…

More extreme approach to Reconstruction-much more harsh than Lincoln’s

1.Majority of white males had to swear loyalty2.State Constitutional Conventions would be

held but rebels would be excluded-former Confederates could not hold public office

3.New Constitution must ban slavery Lincoln would not sign but knew he

must compromise

Actually part of the War Department the bureau was designed to help former slaves transition into free Americans

Food, clothing, medical services –lowers death rate

EDUCATION! Schools ,wages Also helped Southerners who had been

Union sympathizers

Beginning in 1866, laws passed by new Southern Legislatures

Control freed men & women Exploit African-American workers Arrest if unemployed May not own or rent farms Whites may take orphaned black children

as unpaid apprentices REESTABLISHMENT OF SLAVERY-THIN

DISGUISE

Laws that deprived African-Americans of their rights

Formed a segregated society Plessy v. Ferguson supreme court

decision regarding railroads that established principal of “separate but equal.”

15th amendment extends the franchise to all voters, but…

Poll taxes, literacy tests, grandfather clauses

Bon chance, mes amis!