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Westward Movement. Louisiana Purchase. In 1800, France owned most of the land between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains. It was called the Louisiana Territory. Napoleon Bonaparte, the leader of France, wanted to build a colonial empire in America and the Caribbean.
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Louisiana Purchase • In 1800, France owned most of the land between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains. It was called the Louisiana Territory. • Napoleon Bonaparte, the leader of France, wanted to build a colonial empire in America and the Caribbean. • After a slave uprising in Haiti and the beginning of a war with Great Britain, Napoleon decided to sell the land.
Louisiana Purchase, cont. • America purchased the land in 1803 for $15 million. • 500 million acres for 3 cents per acre. • The land is worth nearly $2 Trillion today. • The size of the United States doubled. • President Thomas Jefferson selected Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to organize and lead a group to go explore the new territory.
Lewis and Clark • In 1804, Lewis and Clark left St. Louis, the westernmost American city, to explore land that no American had ever seen. • It took their group nearly two years to make it from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean and back again. • 7,700 miles over rivers, land, and the Rocky Mountains. • Discovered dozens of animals and plants that had never been documented by science. • Made connections with Native American tribes.
Lewis and Clark, cont. • Lewis and Clark became national heroes and inspired many people to move West. • Thousands of Americans moved into the Louisiana Purchase and settled the land. • The “Americanization” of the territory creates conflicts with Native Americans who already lived there.
Journal • What is the most effective way of dealing with a person who will not allow you to have something that you want? • Are there any circumstances under which it would be acceptable to physically assault the person to get them to give you what you want?
The Indian Removal Act • After the Louisiana Purchase and the expedition of Lewis and Clark, thousands of Americans started moving into lands occupied by Native American tribes. • In most cases, Americans lived peacefully along side the Native Americans. • The American government feared that the Native Americans would turn to violence once their cultures started to be threatened. • The Cherokee Nation, living in Georgia, adopted many American customs as part of their culture.
Indian Removal, cont. • When gold was found on Cherokee land, the American government tried to remove them and take the land. • In 1830, the Indian Removal Act created a new territory in modern-day Oklahoma that would be the new home for transplanted Native Americans. • Many tribes agreed to move. The Cherokee did not, and they sued the government in federal court. • In 1832, The Supreme Court ruled that the government could not remove the Cherokee. • President Andrew Jackson ignored the ruling, and sent the army to remove the Cherokee.
The Trail of Tears • Between 1838-1840, 15,000 Cherokee were moved at gunpoint from Georgia to Indian Territory. • This was an 800-mile trip, by foot, through difficult terrain and harsh weather. • About 4,000 Cherokee died along the way, from disease and exposure to the elements. • Called “The Trail of Tears.”
Manifest Destiny • During the 1830’s a belief grew among the American people that they were “destined” to spread American culture and government across the North American continent. • This belief was called “Manifest Destiny” • At that time, the land between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans was owned by many countries. Mexico owned the entire southwest, from Texas to California.
Texas • In 1821, Mexico earned its independence from Spain. • Mexico was a huge country, with land stretching from modern-day Oregon to Guatemala. • The Mexican government was worried that its uninhabited northern lands would be taken over by the United States. • Mexico invited Americans to move to its land in Texas and become Mexican citizens. Hundreds of families moved to Texas and settled the area for Mexico.
Texas, cont. • The Texans were expected to follow Mexican laws and give up their ties to America. Many Texans owned slaves, which violated Mexican law. • The Texans continued ignoring Mexican authority and petitioned the government for more rights. • The Mexican government responded by sending its army to Texas.
War of Texan Independence • In 1835, the American-born settlers in Texas began rebelling against the Mexican Army. • In San Antonio, the rebels gained control of a fort called The Alamo. The Mexican army, led by General Santa Anna, surrounded the fort. • After 13 days, the Mexicans stormed the fort. All 187 Americans defending the fort were killed. • On March 2, 1836, Texas declared its independence.
Texas War, cont. • After the Mexican Army executed 300 rebel prisoners at the Battle of Goliad, the people of Texas decided to support independence. • An army of nearly 1,000 Texans was formed. • At the Battle of San Jacinto, the Texans launched a surprise attack. 630 Mexican soldiers were killed in 18 minutes. • General Santa Anna was captured, and forced to sign a treaty giving Texas its independence. • In September 1836, the Republic of Texas became a country.
Texas Statehood • Texas struggled as an independent nation. It approached the United States about becoming a state. • In 1844, James Polk won the presidential election because of his strong interest in Manifest Destiny and Texas statehood. • In 1845, Texas became a state.
US/Mexico Relations • Mexico felt that Texas still belonged to them, and they were angered at it becoming a state. • Mexico ended diplomatic relations with the US – usually something done before war. • The US offered to buy Mexico’s remaining northern territories for $30 million. The Mexican government refused to listen to the offer.
WAR!!! • President Polk wanted the land that Mexico refused to sell to the US. • Congress did not want to go to war to get the land. • Polk sent the US Army to southern Texas to settle a border dispute. He told the army to cross the border into territory claimed by both Mexico and the US. • Polk was hoping to start a war that could lead to the US getting the Mexican land and achieving Manifest Destiny.
American Blood…. • When the soldiers crossed the disputed border, they were shot at by the Mexican army. 11 US soldiers were killed. • Polk told Congress that “American blood has been spilled on American soil!!” which was not exactly true, but it led to a declaration of war. • This is a classic example of a politician manipulating the facts to get what he wants.
The Mexican-American War • Fought 1846-1848. Won by the United States. • First “offensive” war in US history; a war started by the US in which they invaded another country. • Victories by the US Army in California and in major Mexican cities, heavy shelling of Mexican coastal cities by the US Navy. • Considered one of the most successful military expeditions in US history. Provided a model for future wars.
The Treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo • The peace treaty gave the United States all Mexican land north of the Rio Grade river. • California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and Wyoming were all added to the United States for $15 million. • The modern borders of the United States were set. • Manifest Destiny achieved!
Pioneers • From 1821 through the 1860’s, Americans moved into the West along trails cut through the mountains and deserts. • The Santa Fe Trail went from Missouri to New Mexico. It was used by Americans who wanted to trade with Mexicans and Native Americans. • The Oregon Trail went from Missouri to the Pacific Coast in Oregon. It was used by Americans who wanted to move to the West. • The people walked and rode on wagons pulled by oxen. The trip took months to complete, and was very difficult.
The Mormons • In 1827, Joseph Smith started a religious community called the Mormons. • Christians persecuted the Mormons for their beliefs and forced them to move from place to place. • After Smith was murdered, the Mormons decided to move to the West to survive. • In 1846-47, the Mormons walked from Illinois to Utah, where they created a community that became Salt Lake City. • Irrigation from fresh water lakes was used to turn desert into farmland, a practice later used throughout the Southwest.
The Donner Party • In 1846, a group of Pioneers known as the Donner Party got stuck in the Sierra Nevada mountains on their way to California. • The members of the Donner Party had to spend the winter in the mountains, and some people survived by resorting to cannibalism. • Their true-life horror story caused many people to stay in the East, and it took the discovery of gold in California to get people to start moving to the West again.
The Gold Rush • In 1848, gold was found at Sutter’s Mill near Sacramento. • As word spread across the country, people left their homes to travel to California. • In 1848, 400 people traveled to California. • In 1850, 44,000 people made the trip. • By 1849, California’s population was over 100,000 people and it could become a state.
Gold Rush, cont. • People came to California from all over the world, giving it the most diverse population of any state. • Few people found gold, but many people became rich from selling goods such as blue jeans, food, and mining equipment for inflated prices. • In total, $2 Billion of gold was found in California by 1857. • California’s rapid population growth continued after the gold rush because of employment opportunities created in industries such as farming, banking, and shipping.
Journal • What will be the next “Gold Rush?” • What new discovery could cause people to leave their lives behind for a chance to strike it rich?
