Westward Expansion

Westward Expansion

Louisiana Purchase • West of the Mississippi River was Spanish territory. • Won land after French & Indian War. • France purchases land from Spain; call it Louisiana. • Used land for fur trapping/trading. • Napoleon (French Leader) had plans to overtake the continent (and world). • A slave revolt in Haiti forces France to sell off Louisiana territory to U.S.

Louisiana Purchase • U.S. purchases territory for $15 million. • Paid 3 cents per acre. • The size of the U.S. doubles over night after the purchase of Louisiana.

Louisiana Purchase • President Jefferson hires his close friend, Meriwether Lewis, to explore the new land. • William Clark (expert mapmaker/outdoorsman) joins the search party. • Expedition leaves from St. Louis in 1803, using the rivers as their guide west.

Louisiana Purchase • Expedition leaves with 40 total people making the journey west. • Expedition heads west along Missouri River stopping in present-day North Dakota for winter in 1803. • Before leaving in Spring of 1804, Lewis & Clark add a French fur trader, along with his wife and infant. • Sacagawea (Shoshone) and her husband knew territory well from fur trade.

Louisiana Purchase • Expedition reaches Rocky Mountains (Shoshone territory) in late 1804. • A Shoshone war party begins to attack. • The attack suddenly stops; the Shoshone chief recognizes Sacagawea as his sister and allows Lewis and Clark to pass through lands. • Lewis & Clark reach Pacific Ocean in November 1805; return to St. Louis as heroes in 1806.

Homework #1 – 10/18/12 • What two countries owned the Louisiana Territory before the U.S. purchased it? • Who was the leader of France at the time? • What caused France to want to sell Louisiana territory? • How much did U.S. pay for Louisiana territory? • Which 2 men are chosen to explore new land purchase? • What Native American helps the expedition reach the Pacific Ocean?

Trails West • Mountain men begin trapping animals for fur in newly purchased Louisiana Territory. • Trappers would meet at Rendezvous to trade animal skins for supplies. • As fur trade begins to stop, mountain men become guides for those moving west.

Trails West • Land speculators buy land out west and sell it at higher rate to people moving out west. • People move west for more land, new starts, escape the law, or earn money.

Trails West • St. Louis becomes “Gateway to the West”; families begin heading west in hopes of improving their lives. • Jim Becknell leads some Americans to Santa Fe, beginning a new trading route for merchants. • Others began using the Oregon Trail to settle out west, using guidance of trappers/guides. • In 1843, Oregon Fever caught hold with nearly 1,000 people migrating to Oregon. • The following year, that number doubled

Trails West • While some moved west in search of money, others moved west to escape persecution. • Mormons are led west by Brigham Young • Joseph Smith, founder of religion, was killed in Illinois. • Anti-Mormon mobs attacked followers because of their beliefs. • Young led the Mormons to Utah where they settled near the Great Salt Lake.

Homework #2 – 10/23/12 • What did mountain men use for trade? • Where did mountain men go to trade for supplies? • Who would purchase land out west only to sell it to others for a higher price? • What city became the “Gateway to the West”? • Who opened the trade route to Santa Fe? • Who led the Mormons into Utah?

Trails West • Texas was barely populated with native Spanish (Tejanos) and was in danger of being overrun by Native Americans. • Trying to protect the land from Native Americans, Spain allows Moses Austin (American) to start a colony of Americans in Texas. • Settlers only had to follow Spanish law. • Not long after deal is agreed on, Mexico gained independence from Spain, voiding Austin’s deal.

Trails West • Stephen F. Austin (Moses’ son) persuades Mexico’s gov’t to honor deal. • Settlers have to become Mexican citizens & become members of Roman Catholic church. • Between 1821-25, 300 families followed Austin to Texas to start a new life. • By 1830, American population in Texas swelled to 25,000, outnumbering Tejanos 6-1.

Trails West • As more Americans move to Texas, tensions between Americans and Mexicans rose. • Americans complained about following: • Refused to follow Mexican law. • Slave owners unhappy when Mexico outlaws slavery. • Unhappy that all documents written in Spanish. • Mexicans complained about following American behavior: • Believed they were superior. • Felt deserving of special privileges. • Seemed unwilling to learn or adapt to Mexican law/culture.

Trails West • With tensions rising, Mexican gov’t responds: • American immigration to Texas is outlawed. • Texans now required to pay taxes. • More Mexican troops sent to Texas. • Stephen Austin goes to Mexico City to persuade Mexican gov’t to allow Texas to be a self-governed state of Mexico. • Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna (Mexico’s leader) agrees to most terms • Jails Stephen Austin 1 year for inciting a rebellion (captured letter).

Trails West • Texans agree to rebel, while Santa Anna sends additional Mexican troops to Texas. • Texans seize an old mission called the Alamo from Mexican control. • Embarrassed by defeat, Santa Anna sends more troops to take mission back under control. • On Feb. 23, 1823, Santa Anna’s troops arrive & surround the Alamo.

Trails West • For 12 days, Texans inside Alamo mission keep Mexican troops out. • On 13th day, 1,800 Mexican troops attack the Alamo. • Texans hold them off temporarily but run out of ammunition and are slaughtered. • All survivors, except for a few women & children, are executed. • 183 people are executed by Mexican Army; slaughter shocks U.S.

Trails West • After Alamo victory, Gen. Santa Anna headed to San Jacinto to plot his next move. • American forces, led by Sam Houston, launch a surprise attack on Santa Anna and his troops. • In 18 minutes, half of the Mexican army is killed with the rest surrendering.

Trails West • Gen. Santa Anna is captured among other soldiers who surrender to American’s surprise attack. • Santa Anna is placed in jail in Texas and given two options: 1. Try and rule Mexico from the jail cell for the rest of his life or… 2. Sign treaty freeing Texas from Mexican control

Trails West • Following Santa Anna’s surrender, Texas became an independent nation (nicknamed the Lone Star Republic). • Texas, wanting to be a state in U.S., applies for statehood into U.S. in 1836. • Some northern states fear Texas’ admission into U.S. would upset balance between free & slave states in Congress. • Other northern states fear that allowing Texas into union would bring war against Mexico. • Amid concerns, Congress denies Texas’ admission into union.

Homework #3 – 10/31/12 • What country allowed American migration to Texas? • In order to live in Texas, what two requests did Mexico demand of American settlers? • Who is Mexico’s leader? • What happened to Stephen F. Austin when he visited Mexico City? • How many people died after the Alamo fell into Mexican control? • What happened to prisoners/survivors of the Alamo? • Where was Gen. Santa Anna defeated?

Trails West • American’s use the excuse of “Manifest Destiny” to expand territory into other parts of N. America. • America & Great Britain dispute ownership of Oregon territory. • Both claimed land in northwest, claiming it was theirs. • Instead of fighting for entire Oregon territory, both sides agree to compromise. • In 1846, Oregon territory would be split along 49º latitudinal line. • Current border between U.S. & Canada uses same line.

Trails West • By end of 1846, U.S. had troubles with Mexico regarding Texas. • The complaint: • Texas was admitted as state in 1845. • Mexico claimed Texas was still their territory and viewed adding Texas as state as an act of war. • Texas & Mexico couldn’t agree on official border between them. • Texas claimed Rio Grande River was border; Mexico claimed Nueces River was border.

Trails West • America offers $30 million for disputed land of Texas; Mexico declines. • President Polk stations 3,500 troops northern bank of Rio Grande (in disputed territory). • Citing U.S. troops are invading their country, Mexico ambushes U.S. troops on April 25, 1846, forcing them to retreat.

Trails West • This act prompted President Polk to declare to Congress “Mexico has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon American soil”. • Congress declared war 2 days later. • American reactions are mixed about war. • Some in North fear this was about expanding slavery. • Some in South want war in order to expand slavery. • Many question deaths of U.S. soldiers simply over a land grab.

Homework #4 • What excuse did American use to expand west? • Which two countries claimed ownership of Oregon territory? • What was the 49º latitudinal line used for? • What border did Texas claim between Mexico? What border did Mexico claim with Texas? • How much money did U.S. offer Mexico for disputed territory? • Where were American troops stationed by President Polk? Why did Mexico attack?

Trails West • Mexican-American War lasts just over 1 year with the U.S. winning with better army and organization. • Early U.S. victories in present day New Mexico, Texas, California force Mexico to retreat back to their country. • U.S. begins to invade Mexico with army and uses navy to blockade key ports; cuts off Mexican supply lines.

Trails West • The war ends in September 1847, with Mexico signing the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. • Under the terms of the treaty, U.S. gets: • All territory from Mexican Cession and Texas Annexation. • California as U.S. territory • Texas recognized as member of U.S. • Rio Grande is new border between Mexico & U.S. • In 1853, U.S. pays Mexico $10 million for strip of land known as Gadsden Purchase to complete U.S. map.

Trails West • Prior to Mexico losing California, the state was inhabited by native Spanish settlers called Californios. • Owned large cattle ranches • Californios used cattle ranches as “missions” to convert Native Americans to their religion. • Ranches serves more like slave camps, not missions. • After California becomes U.S. territory, carpenter James Marshall discovers a 3 oz. nugget of gold laying in a river.

Trails West • Marshall’s discovery sparks a mad dash out west known as “California Gold Rush”. • People migrating west in search of gold in 1849 become known as “forty-niners”. • While nearly 2/3 of the 49er’s were white American, minorities and immigrants did most of the work.

Trails West • Miners/campers in California face massive inflation for everyday supplies. • Shovels - $20; full breakfast - $10; coffee - $5. • As more people filled out the west coast, resentment towards minorities and immigrants grew. • Chinese immigrants became a target of racism/bigotry because of their success. • Mined in areas that were already “played-out”. • Continued to find gold and turn profit.

Trails West • California applied for statehood in 1850 and was admitted as a free state (non-slave). • First official act of California was to pass the Foreign Miners Tax. • Tax required immigrants to pay $20 a month to mine for gold (most couldn’t afford & left)

Trails West • Gold rush ends in 1852; California sees 250,000 people move into territory in 3 years. • As more people moved to California, diseases they bring with them wipes out the Native American population that remains.

Homework #5 • What treaty ends the Mexican-American War? • Who was the first person credited with finding gold in California? • What are Californios? • What was the nickname given to those people who migrated to California in search of gold? • When did California officially become a state? What kind of state were they, slave or non-slave? • When did the gold rush come to an end? • What was the Foreign Miner’s tax and how did this affect immigrants?

Westward Expansion