The Oregon Trail

1. The Oregon Trail • Hardships • Smallpox, Native American attacks, cholera, dysentery • Many died on voyage • Annex – U.S. added Oregon without bloodshed • Became a state in 1859 • Travelers attracted by free land (up to 640 acres) • 1840-1859 • 52,000 emigrants moved to Oregon

2. Death on the Oregon Trail Cholera Dysentery an inflammatory disorder of the intestine, especially of the colon, that results in severe diarrhea containing mucus and/or blood in the feceswith fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, dysentery can be fatal. • a bacterial infection of the small intestine

3. “Fifty-four Forty or Fight!” • Campaign slogan of democrat James K. Polk • Promised to extend the Northern Border of the U.S. to 54°40’ N or fight for it • Southerners in Congress made it clear that they would not risk war with Britain over Oregon. • British leaders did not want to jeopardize economic relationship US. • In June 1846, the Senate - Oregon Treaty with Britain, setting the boundary at the 49th parallel

4. The Mormons Mormon or Latter Day Saint – follower of the Church of the Latter Day Saints Founded by Joseph Smith Holy Books - Book of Mormon and Bible

5. Joseph Smith • Farmer in upstate New York • 1820s – had a vision to start a new Christian religious group • Published “The Book of Mormon”

6. Journey into the Desert • Under constant persecution, the Mormons moved from New York to Ohio to Missouri to Illinois • 1844 – A mob attacked and killed Smith (while in Jail) • Smiths successor Brigham Young, led the Mormons to safety in Utah • 15,000 followed him

7. Brigham Young • 1850 – became the Governor of Utah • By 1860 – 30,000 Mormons lived in Utah • 1896 – Utah becomes the forty-fifth state

8. Mormon Church – restoration of the ‘Christian Church’ God has a physical body, is married, and can have children Strongly focused on traditional family life and values Oppose – abortion, homosexuality, gambling, tobacco, coffee, tea, and use of drugs Polygamy – the practice of having more than one wife This practice was discontinued over a century ago Mormonism – Basic Beliefs

11. Stephen F. Austin • Most successful empresario • Issued 297 land grants; later known as “Old Three Hundred” • Each received: • 177 acres of farmland • 4428 acres for stock grazing • 10 year exemption from paying taxes

12. Polk Wants War • Believed war with Mexico would bring in New Mexico and California • Supported claim that Texas’s border stopped at Rio Grande river, Mexico said it stopped at Neuces River

13. War Begins • General Zachary Taylor sent to Texas to protect southern border • Mexico attacks • Killed 9 Americans • Captured 55 others • Taylor asks Polk to declare war • War Begins – April 1846

14. The U.S. – Mexican War is the very first war the U.S. fought outside of its own territory …

15. … as well as the first major event captured by photographs

16. Some Americans confuse this war with the Texas Revolution(1835 – 1836).

17. Other Americans confuse this war with the Spanish - AmericanWar (1898).

18. Another reason most Americans know little of this conflict is that the Civil War overshadowed it 13 years later.

19. Consequently, many critics of the time period referred to the conflict as “Mr. Polk’s War.” 11th POTUS (1845 – 1849)

20. For Mexicans, the war is simply the North American Invasion (La Intervención Norteamericana).

21. Opposition • Many anti-slavery Americans challenged the war • Included Abraham Lincoln • The North did not want another slave state entering the Union – Wilmot Proviso

22. Kearny Marches West • Colonel Stephen Kearny and troops march from Kansas to New Mexico • “The Long Marcher” • New Mexico falls to US

23. The Bear Flag Republic • The 500 citizens of California revolt against Mexican rulers in 1846 • Create the Bear Flag Republic • Mexico surrenders California in 1847

24. The War in Mexico • American troops easily overpowered Mexican troops • US troops led by Captain Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant • Generals Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott

25. Making Peace • Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo 1848 • Mexico gave up all of California and New Mexico • Also known as Mexican Cession • Included California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and most of Arizona

26. Taylor’s Election in 1848 • Democrats- Lewis Cass • Free-Soil Party- Van Buren • Whig Party- Zachary Taylor

27. Gadsden Purchase • 1853 • US purchased land for $10 million dollars • The continental U.S. is now complete

28. Gold Rush Gold discovered on January 24, 1848 Forty-niners – gold seekers who went to California in 1849 Over 300,000 people traveled to California in search of gold!

29. Effects of the Gold Rush • Many Native Americans died from disease and genocide • 150,000 in 1840 • 30,000 in 1870 • One in twelve forty-niners died • death and crime rates during the Gold Rush were extraordinarily high • Environmental Damage • gravel, silt and toxic chemicals from prospecting operations killed fish and destroyed habitats • California became a state (1850) • Eurkea (“I Have Found It”) became State Motto • The “Golden State” • Development of Transcontinental Railroad

30. Gold Today • The high price of gold is due to its rare amount. Only three parts out of every billion (0.000000003) in the Earth's crust is gold. • May 9, 2014 - $1293 per ounce