Lecture: Going West

Learning Target 1: I can describe why people wanted to move west.

Learning Target 2: I can describe the two conflicts with Mexico.

I-Expansion to the Pacific

A-Manifest Destiny: Belief that the U.S. Should control all land from Atlantic Ocean to Pacific Ocean

B-Mexico gains independence from Spain in 1821

1-the following were part of Mexico at the time

A) TexasB) CaliforniaC) ArizonaD) New MexicoE) NevadaF) UtahG) Part of Colorado

I-Expansion to the Pacific

C-U.S. and Great Britain settle the northern boundary dispute between Canada and the U.S. from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific

1-Convention of 1818 set the boundary at the 49th

Parallel from Lake of the Woods to The Rocky Mountains2-Webster-Ashburton Treaty (1842)

A) dispute over boundary between Maine and CanadaB) problems caused by shipping problems

1) British suppressed slave trade2) Canadians burned American ship3) settled border disputed in Great Lakes4) created cooperation between US and Britain in curbing slave trade

I-Expansion to the Pacific

3-Many Americans wanted the remainder to be at the 54’54 parallel

A) Famous slogan: “54-40 or fight” 4-Settlement was reached in 1846: 49 Parallel was established to the Pacific Ocean (with an exception at the very end)5-Settlement includes what is now

A) WashingtonB) OregonC) Idaho

I-Expansion to the Pacific

I-Expansion to the Pacific

D-Movement into the west by settlers1-First inhabitants: Native Americans

A) Many were moved here by treaty with the U.S. governmentB) Others were pushed west by settlersC) Problem: Many conflicts with those “moving in” and those already there

I-Expansion to the PacificD-Movement into the west by settlers

2-First non-native people: Fur trappers and Mountain Men

A) Grizzly Adams typeB) Relied on self-sufficiencyC-had a gathering once a year called “rendez-vous”

I-Expansion to the Pacific

3-by 1840, more permanent settlers moved into the area

A) used various established trails1) Oregon Trail2) Santa Fe Trail3) Mormon Trail4) Many others

I-Expansion to the Pacific

I-Expansion to the Pacific

B) Travelled in Wagon Trains

I-Expansion to the Pacific

C) Problems1) Threat of attacks by Native Americans (very rare at first, but became more prevalent in the late 1800’s2) Land very dry between Mississippi River and mountains3) Mountains4) Weather, especially the snow in the mountains (Donnor Party)

II-Conflict with Mexico

A-Problems in Texas1-began when Americans moved to Texas

A) Mexico invited them to move inB) Why: More population

2-Americans used to “democracy” and Mexico was not completely “democratic”3-Cultures began to clash

A) PoliticalB) Religious (Protestant vs. Catholic)C) Slavery (Mexico had already outlawed it)D) Mexico believed Americans wanted to bring Texas into U.S.

II-Conflict with MexicoB-War for Texan Independence

1-1832: Gen. Antonio de Santa Anna became Mexican ruler2-Santa Anna sent troops to solidify Mexico’s hold on Texas

A) Americans did not like this

3-Nov. 1835: Meeting of all American settlements to discuss Texas independence

II-Conflict with Mexico4-March 1836: Battle of the Alamo

A) 200 American men vs. 4000 Mexican troops

B) Battle lasted 12 days!C) women and children were allowed to leave before the battle took placeD) Americans eventually lost---all 200 killed

1) Among the dead: Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie

II-Conflict with Mexico4-March 1836: Battle of the Alamo

E) Battle Cry: “Remember the Alamo!”F) American Volunteers swarmed to help TexasG) April 1836: Sam Houston captures Santa AnnaH) While captured, Santa Anna signs a treaty giving Texas independence and settles boundaries between Texas and Mexico

I) New Nation: Lone Star Republic

II-Conflict with Mexico

II-Conflict with Mexico

C-Lone Star Republic1-first president: Sam Houston2-First election called for Texas to be annexed to the U.S.A

A) only 61 of 6000 voters objected to being annexed

3-President Andrew Jackson saw this as possible war between U.S. and Mexico

A) Jackson & U.S. reject proposal to annex Texas

4-Possible problem: If Texas is admitted, the balance of power between North and South would be tipped in Southfavor5-Texas becomes a state in 1845

II-Conflict with Mexico

D-By 1845, U.S. want to buy California from Mexico---Mexico says NO!

1-1846: President James K. Polk decided to “use other means” get California

A) Started an “internal” revolt like in Texas2-Boarder conflict between Texas and Mexico starts war3-Revolters in California join in and are successful

A) Revolters claim Californian independenceB) Call their country the “Bear Flag Republic”

4-Mexicans were confident they could beat American

A) Americans massacre Mexico and capture land all the way to Mexico City

II-Conflict with Mexico

5-1848: Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo ends the war

A) U.S. gets 1) California2) New Mexico3) Arizona4) sets the boundary between Texas and Mexico at Rio Grande River

6-1853-Gadsen Purchase: U.S. buys a strip of land in what is now Arizona and New Mexico

III-Gold!

A-1848: Gold discovered at Sutter’s Mill in California

III-Gold!

B-1849: People for all over the world flock to California to get rich quick (49ers)

1-ProblemsA) few actually became richB) not used to the terrainC) not well preparedD) many died in route to CaliforniaE) Many lied in letters home

1) told of the riches they found (very few)2) made up names where people died when they died in the wilderness3) Caused many more people to come to California

III-Gold!

2-Those who made a lot of money did so in business

A) Levi Strauss: Tents and jeansB) Saloon ownersC) Shop keepers, especially mining

suppliersC-1850: California becomes a state because so many people migrated there for gold

III-Gold!