Essential Question: What is Manifest Destiny and how did the U.S. expand to the Pacific coast?

The Manifest Destiny

• Definition: Belief that it was America’s God given right to settle land all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

• Various reasons for moving west

Manifest Destiny

• Shared territory with G.B. since 1818• Polk’s slogan: Fifty four forty or fight!• U.S. and British set the border at the 49th parallel

in 1846

The Oregon Treaty

• Americans settle Texas• Belonged to Spain, then

Mexico• In exchange for land must

surrender American citizenship, swear allegiance to Mexico, adopt Roman Catholic religion

• Mexico unhappy with U.S. influence

• Texans declare independence from Mexico on Mar 2 1836 and war breaks out

Texas Independence

• 200 Texans captured a fort in San Antonio • Thousands of Mexicans lay siege to the fort for

12 days and nights• Kill nearly all 200 defenders• Texans win Battle of San Jacinto, force Santa

Anna to sign a treaty, and gain independence

The Alamo

• Texans vote to join Union• Opinion of Americans mixed • Texas joins Union in 1845 as a

slave state • Mexico breaks diplomatic

relations with U.S.• U.S. offers to pay for New

Mexico and CA• Mexico refuses• Blood shed in disputed territory• War begins!!

War With Mexico

• U.S. uses aggressive military strategy• Californians easily defeat Mexican forces• Declare CA to be independent Republic of

California• U.S. forces arrive and gain control of CA• U.S. forces overwhelm Mexican forces in U.S.

and Mexico

Bear Flag Revolt

1. Mexico gives up TX2. Mexican Cession: U.S. gets land in

present day CA, NV, UT, WY, CO, AZ, NM 3. US pays Mexico $15M

4. Gadsden Purchase

Area in red: Mexican CessionArea in orange: Gadsden Purchase

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Nevada

Arizona

Utah

Colorado

New Mexico

California

• Gold found at Sutter’s sawmill• Secret got out – arrive from Eu., As, S.A., East C.• 80,000 move to CA in 1849 (miners, businessmen)• Rise of CA cities• 1850 31st State

The California Gold Rush 1848

Pop Quiz!! 4 points. 1 paragraph.What is Manifest Destiny? Explain how the United States acquired Texas and additional land along the Southwest coast in the mid 19th century.