Chapter 16

1. Chapter 16 Expanding West (1790-1850)

2. Chapter 16Expanding West (1790-1850) Section 1 The Spanish West and Southwest

3. Life in Northern New Spain • New Spain’s northern frontier was made up of California, New Mexico, and Texas • New Mexico = oldest; capital = Santa Fe • Spanish colonists and Pueblo Indians influenced one another in New Mexico’s small, scattered villages • Spanish changed many aspects of Pueblo life – brought new tools and new foods to region • Spanish introduced to beans and corn; began to build adobes • Life in California different from life in New Mexico • Missions = center of life; between 1769-1823, 21 missions built • Spanish military forts (presidios) protected missions • Hoped military presence would keep British and Russians out of region • Missions held great deal of land – used for farming and ranching • American Indians performed most of the labor • Missions supported themselves selling goods to local communities • Spanish colonists in California known as Californios – cut off from rest of New Spain because of distance

4. Early Texas • Spain built up to 40 missions in Texas • Weaker than the mission system in California – Texas missions further apart and they often fought with local American Indians (Apache and Comanche) • Fewer Spanish settlers moved to Texas (Tejanos) • Spanish government offered land grants to settlers • By mid-1700s only a few thousand Tejanos lived in Texas • Introduced new breeds of cattle and soon created cattle-ranching society • Comanche and Apache still controlled much of Texas, limited Spanish expansion

5. Mexico Gains Independence • 1810 – 80,000 poor American Indians and Mestizos in Mexico joined in revolt against Spanish rule • Led by Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (Mexican priest) • Rebels hoped independence would improve living conditions • As Father Hidalgo marched army across countryside he began reforms such as ending enslavement and unfair taxation of American Indians • Hidalgo could not unite all Mexican villages; Spanish defeated rebels, killed the priest • Father José María Morelos y Pavón continued revolution and Hidalgos reforms; fought bravely until captured in 1815 • Agustín de Iturbide – led rebels to defeat Spanish in 1821 • Made himself Mexico’s emperor; stepped down after 1½ years • New congress created a new constitution (1824) – made Mexico a republic • Country included what is now Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Utah • Contained parts of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Wyoming

6. Changes in California and Texas • 1833 Mexico ended Spanish mission system in California and gave mission lands to Californios • Group of about 500 families created large ranches – largest had up to 90,000 acres • For most American Indians, life did not greatly improve with end of mission system • Texas merged with Mexican province of Coahuila to form Coahuila y Texas • Many Tejanos were chased away or killed during war • Mexican officials worried so few people could not protect all of Texas • Government decided to recruit more settlers to protect northern frontier from American Indian attacks or possible invasion

7. Chapter 16Expanding West (1790-1850) Section 2 Texas Gains Independence

8. American Settlers in Texas • Empresarios, or agents, were hired by Mexico to bring settlers to Texas • Received land – as much as 67,000 acres for every 200 families • Stephen Austin selected colony on the lower Colorado River • First 300 settlers became known as “Old Three Hundred” • He worked to keep the peace between the Mexican government and American settlers • Most American settlers came from southern states • Attracted by promise of free or cheap land

9. Trouble in Texas • Mexico set requirements for foreign immigrants (1821) • Had to become Mexican citizen, obey Mexican laws, and support the Roman Catholic Church • Most U.S. settlers not interested in adapting to Mexican culture or becoming Mexican citizens • By 1830, there were more American settlers than Tejanos • Ignored Mexican laws, acted as though still in U.S. • Many went to Texas illegally, felt little loyalty to Mexico • Americans and Tejanos argued they were not fairly represented in Mexican government • Mexican central government too powerful; called for Constitution of 1824 to be more strictly followed • Mexico responded by enforcing laws more strictly • Worked to keep settlers from bringing in slaves • Tariffs on goods from U.S. raised • Sent more soldiers to Texas

10. Trouble in Texas (continued) • Austin tried to keep peace; went to Mexico with petition asking for more self-government (1833); thrown in jail • General Antonio López de Santa Anna elected president of Mexico (1833) • Suspended constitution in 1834 • Austin released from jail after 1 ½ years, called for all Texans to rebel

11. The Texas Revolution Begins • Started in the town of Gonzales when Mexican army tried to remove a cannon located there • Texans defeated Mexican soldiers after brief battle • Nov. 1835 – group of Texans formed a temporary government • Goals – defeating Santa Anna and restoring Mexican Constitution • Texas volunteers captured the towns of Goliad and San Antonio • Texans occupied the Alamo – led by William Travis, Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett • Santa Anna led 1800 troops to San Antonio to put down rebellion • Travis refused to retreat • Santa Anna arrived February 23, 1836, Travis only had 189 troops • Mexicans surrounded the Alamo for 13 days; attacked and overpowered Texans – all defenders of the Alamo killed

12. The Texas Revolution Begins (continued) • “Remember the Alamo!” became the rallying cry in Texas and the U.S. because survivors like Susanna Dickinson and others spread the story of the Alamo • Mexican forces attacked troops near town of Goliad • Texans outnumbered • Texas Commander James Fannin chose to surrender • Santa Anna executed Commander Fannin and some troops

13. Texas Becomes a Republic • Texas delegates met to declare their independence from Mexico four days before the Battle of the Alamo • Texas Declaration of Independence and Constitution were modeled on U.S. • Texas Constitution specifically made slavery legal • David Burnet – temporary president; Lorenzo de Zavala • Sam Houston became commander in chief of Texas army • Outnumbered and untrained his soldiers had to retreat east • Battle of San Jacinto (near present-day Houston) • Houston’s army launched surprise attack – “Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!” • Santa Anna’s troops drive back and trapped in nearby woods • Santa Anna captured and forced to sign treaty giving Texas independence (1844) • Many Mexican officials did not accept Texas as being independent

14. Chapter 16Expanding West (1790-1850) Section 3 The Lone Star Republic

15. Texas Faces the World • Republic of Texas – independent nation of Texas • Capital – Houston • Sam Houston elected president (former governor of Tennessee); Mirabeau Lamar – VP • New government asked the U.S. to annex Texas in 1837 • Members of Congress wanted to annex but President Jackson (and later President Van Buren) was concerned because Texas supported slavery • Also, Jackson did not want to go to war with Mexico • U.S. recognized Texas as independent nation; France did in 1839, Great Britain in 1840 • Mexico still refused to agree that Texas had become independent

16. American Indians and Tejanos • Houston established peaceful relations with American Indians • Indian policy changed (became more harsh) in 1838 when Mirabeau Lamar became president • Demanded American Indians leave homelands and follow all Texas laws – threatened military action if they refused • Fighting broke out with the Cherokee and Comanche • Raids increased • Texans believed Cherokee were plotting with Mexico to overthrow the republic • Houston elected to 2nd term (1841), fighting slowed • Texans had already forced most American Indians from their eastern lands • Relations with Americans and Tejanos suffered in New Republic • Tejanos often faced unfair treatment – lost land, political power and property

17. New Immigrants • TX offered land grants to American and European settlers to increase population • 1840-1841 – gave out nearly 37 million acres • Largest group of immigrants to TX was from U.S. • In search of land, economic opportunities, particularly after Panic of 1837 • Majority from southern states; most small farmers, did not own slaves • Slaveholders attracted because TX constitution made slavery legal • Population of enslaved African Americans increased from 5000 (1836) to 70,000(1845) • Laws of republic made life for former slaves difficult • Free African Americans banned from immigrating to TX • Free African Americans living within TX would have to leave within 2 years or be sold into slavery • Germans made up largest group of European immigrants to TX • Laws had to published in German and English (1843) • Established farming communities • French, Irish, Czech, and Polish also immigrated

18. Struggles of the Republic • Small, scattered population; faced challenges as any independent country would • Only 4 TX towns had population greater than 1000 – Galveston, Houston, New Braunfels, San Antonio • Travel between newer settlements was slow, difficult and often dangerous • Significant economic problems • Economy based largely on farming and ranching • Had little cash; new nation was almost bankrupt • Taxes on imports and property failed to bring in much revenue • Government’s lack of funds made it difficult for TX to defend vast territory • Houston forced to disband most of TX army due to discipline problems • Relied on militia companies and Texas Rangers for defense and frontier protection

19. Struggles of the Republic • Mexico still considered TX to be its property • 1841 – Lamar authorized military attack on Santa Fe in Mexican territory of New Mexico • Invasion lacked approval of Texas Congress and failed • Mexican army took control of San Antonio on 2 occasions • Peace treaty signed in 1844 after Houston returned to presidency

20. Chapter 16Expanding West (1790-1850) Section 4 Oregon and the Far West

21. The Fur Traders • First non-American Indians who traveled to Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest were fur traders and trappers a/k/a mountain men • American Fur Company = one of the largest businesses that bought furs from trappers; owned by John Jacob Astor • Mountain men adopted American Indian Customs and clothing to survive; often married American Indian women • Bringing furs out of Rocky Mountains = expensive • Traders often stayed in mountains, met once a year to trade and socialize = rendezvous • Filled with celebrating, storytelling; conducting business • Era of American fur trading in Pacific Northwest lasted a short time • Demand for beaver furs fell as fashions changed • Too much trapping lowered supply • Some trappers moved back east; others began guiding farmers, miners and ranchers to the west

22. Oregon Country • 1811 – John Jacob Astor founded Astoria as center for fur trade at the mouth of the Columbia River (Pacific northwest) • Small outpost = one of the earliest American settlements in the region later called Oregon Country) • Beginning of 1800s – Oregon Country occupied by American Indians • Great Britain, Russia, Spain and U.S. claimed the region • U.S. claim based on exploration of merchant captain Robert Gray (1792) • Adams-Onis Treaty – Spain gave up claims to land beyond the northern border of what is now California • Russia signed a treaty with U.S. – gave up claims to southern border of what is now Alaska • U.S. and Britain signed treaty in 1818 allowing both to occupy Oregon Country • Extended treaty in 1827 – did not state how long shared ownership would last

23. The Missionary Spirit • Missionaries were among first Americans to settle Oregon Country • Some churches wanted to bring Christianity to American Indians in Far West during 2nd Great Awakening • Marcus and Narcissa Whitman – missionaries • Settled in Walla Walla – present-day Washington state • Founded a mission called Waiilatpu • Limited success • Efforts ended in tragedy – killed by angry American Indians after epidemic killed many children

24. A New Life Out West • Thousands from the Midwest moved to Oregon Country looking to improve their lives • Newspapers encouraged movement; reported rich farmland, great forests, rivers full of fish, good climate • New territorial government set up in 1843 set up system of land grants to attract more settlers • Most new settlers moved into the Willamette Valley • Majority stayed and prospered in what is now Oregon • Others settled in what is now Washington • Population growth led to increased conflict with American Indians and greater tension with Great Britain

25. The Oregon Trail • Many settlers moving to Oregon followed the Oregon Trail • Stretched more than 2,000 miles across the northern Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains • Started journey in Independence or St. Joseph, Missouri or Council Bluffs, Iowa • Lasted about 6 months • Gathered in wagon trains • Shortages of food, supplies and water were a constant problem • Faced weather and natural barriers

26. Opening the American West

27. Chapter 16Expanding West (1790-1850) Section 5 California and the Southwest

28. Going to California • 1830s and 1840s California still under Mexican rule • Main route to California started with Oregon Trail • California Trail ran through the Sierra Nevada mountains – tried to cross before first snow • Donner party – western travelers with bad luck and poor judgment • Began journey west in spring of 1846 • Left main trail and got lost looking for shortcut • Trapped in heavy snow when they reached the Sierra Nevada • When rescue party found them, 42 of the 87 had died • California became a meeting ground for merchants from Mexico and the U.S. • Mexicans and American Indians made up most of California’s population • Mexico gave Swiss immigrant John Sutter permission to start a colony in 1839 • Sutter’s Fort was located near the Sacramento River and became a popular rest stop for American immigrants

29. Other Southwestern Trails • After Mexico gained its independence in 1821, the Mexican government agreed to allow American merchants to come to New Mexico • Seized opportunity by starting the Santa Fe Trail – ran from Independence, Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico • Loaded wagons with cloth and other manufactured goods to exchange for horses, mules and silver • U.S. government offered traders protection by sending troops and providing money to ensure American Indian cooperation

30. Frontier Artists • Artists inspired to travel west with explorers to the frontier • George Catlin gave up career as portrait painter in Philadelphia to go west • Painted more than 500 images of American Indians • Alfred Jacob Miller traveled through the Rocky Mountains painting the landscape