The Western Settlement of the The Western Settlement of the United StatesUnited States

Where in the world were the majority of immigrants to the U.S. coming from?

Jobs in the new factories in America’s

expanding cities

Overcrowding in European

cities

Floods and severe

winters in Germany

Rise in European

dictatorships in the early 1800s

Abundant & cheap land in the American

west

Potato Famine in Ireland causes

tens of thousands of deaths due to

starvation

Failed German revolution causes 1000s of political refugees to flee

country

Gold rush in the American West that started in the 1850s

Pollution & overcrowding in

British cities due to its Industrial Revolution

• Although many immigrants settled in rural America, a great majority settled in cities. • Largest Immigrant Cities of the Time:

** New York, Boston, Pittsburgh, and Chicago • Five out of every six Irish and Russian Immigrants lived in cities• Three out of four Italian and Hungarian Immigrants lived in cities • Seven out of 10 English Immigrants came to cities

The man on the right side of the scale is

supposed to represent an Irish immigrant to

America. What is the message

of this cartoon?

What rail lines formed the first

transcontinental line across the U.S.?

The Power Source

•Western farmers could sell goods to Eastern & World market = more $$$•Allowed for faster settlement of the West•In the 1950s, U.S. Built more than 20 000 miles of track- enough to circle the world•Railroad & canal towns developed- Best example Chicago, which became the greatest railroad centre in the world

Manifest DestinyManifest Destiny Texas Annexation by the United Texas Annexation by the United

StatesStates Boundary dispute between Mexico Boundary dispute between Mexico

and the U.S. over the boundary of and the U.S. over the boundary of TexasTexas

The belief that it was the destiny of The belief that it was the destiny of the United States to stretch across the United States to stretch across North AmericaNorth America

This belief influenced the attitudes of This belief influenced the attitudes of the American people and the policies the American people and the policies of the U.S. government of the U.S. government

Term coined by New York newspaper Term coined by New York newspaper editor John O’Sullivan in 1845editor John O’Sullivan in 1845

JOHN GAST‘S - "AMERICAN PROGRESS," (1872)

Manifest Destiny . . .

By March 1845 Congress had By March 1845 Congress had already approved Texas Annexationalready approved Texas Annexation

The Republic of Texas hopes The Republic of Texas hopes annexation will solve the republic’s annexation will solve the republic’s financial & military problemsfinancial & military problems

Texas becomes the 28Texas becomes the 28thth state in state in December of 1845.December of 1845.

Mexico reacts by cutting off all Mexico reacts by cutting off all diplomatic ties with the U.S.diplomatic ties with the U.S.

Texas and U.S. claim that the Rio Texas and U.S. claim that the Rio Grande marks the southern border of Grande marks the southern border of TexasTexas

Mexican government rejects this idea Mexican government rejects this idea and argues that the real southern and argues that the real southern border is the Nueces Riverborder is the Nueces River

Nueces River boundaryRio Grande boundary

June 1845- June 1845- President Polk President Polk ordered General ordered General Zachary Taylor to Zachary Taylor to take U.S. troops take U.S. troops into disputed into disputed border regionborder region

Polk claims this Polk claims this action is to protect action is to protect Texas from possible Texas from possible Mexican attackMexican attack

Meanwhile, Polk sent Meanwhile, Polk sent diplomat John Slidell diplomat John Slidell to Mexico City to to Mexico City to negotiate the negotiate the purchase California & purchase California & New Mexico for $30 New Mexico for $30 millionmillion

Mexican officials Mexican officials refused to meet with refused to meet with SlidellSlidell

John Slidell

March 1846 – General Taylor’s March 1846 – General Taylor’s troops made camp at the Rio troops made camp at the Rio Grande in disputed territoryGrande in disputed territory

April 1846 – Mexican commander April 1846 – Mexican commander insisted U.S. troops must leave insisted U.S. troops must leave area and Taylor refused to movearea and Taylor refused to move

Mexican forces crossed the Rio Mexican forces crossed the Rio Grande and attacked group of 63 Grande and attacked group of 63 U.S. soldiersU.S. soldiers

11 Americans killed11 Americans killed

May 11, 1846 – Polk addressed May 11, 1846 – Polk addressed CongressCongress

He declared that “Mexico has He declared that “Mexico has shed American blood upon the shed American blood upon the American soil.”American soil.”

Two days later Congress Two days later Congress declared war on Mexicodeclared war on Mexico

For many Americans the war led to For many Americans the war led to greater national pridegreater national pride

Many people who supported the war Many people who supported the war believed it would spread republican believed it would spread republican valuesvalues

Many southerners supported the Many southerners supported the war, thinking any territory won war, thinking any territory won would be organized into slave stateswould be organized into slave states

Many members of the Whig Party Many members of the Whig Party thought the conflict was unjustifiedthought the conflict was unjustified

Northern abolitionists feared any Northern abolitionists feared any territory gained in the war might be territory gained in the war might be organized into slave statesorganized into slave states

Illinois Congressman Abraham Illinois Congressman Abraham Lincoln wrote the “Spot Resolutions” Lincoln wrote the “Spot Resolutions” in 1848– asking Polk to show the in 1848– asking Polk to show the spot where American blood had been spot where American blood had been shed on American soilshed on American soil

Forced on Santa Anna and MexicoForced on Santa Anna and Mexico Southern boundary of Texas set at the Southern boundary of Texas set at the

Rio GrandeRio Grande U.S. gained:U.S. gained:

– Present-day states of California, Nevada, Present-day states of California, Nevada, and Utahand Utah

– Most of Arizona and New MexicoMost of Arizona and New Mexico– Parts of Colorado and WyomingParts of Colorado and Wyoming

U.S. agreed to pay $15 million to Mexico U.S. agreed to pay $15 million to Mexico and pay debts of Mexico to U.S. citizensand pay debts of Mexico to U.S. citizens

America in 1830America in 1830

America in 1850America in 1850

I am President James K. Polk and I say 54-40

or Fight!!!