Westward Expansion & Manifest Destiny

1. Westward Expansion & Manifest Destiny Will a growing nation lead to greater Nationalism or increased Sectionalism?

2. What is Manifest Destiny? • Definition: belief that the expansion of the US throughout the American continents was both justified and inevitable. • Thought of as “God’s will”

3. Back under President Monroe… • John Quincy Adams (Secretary of State) made national security & expansion top priorities • Remember the Monroe Doctrine! • Rush-Bagot Treaty : limited ships in Great Lakes • Adams-Onís Treaty (1819) • Spain gives Florida to the United States • Establishes new border between U.S. and Spanish Territory

4. As we expand… • As the United States continues to grow and new states / territories are added slavery will become a major issue & conflict • Why? • Balance of power • Until 1818, the U.S. had been equally divided as 10 free states and 10 slave states • Illinois admitted as free state in 1818

5. The Issue of Missouri • After Illinois becomes is admitted as free state, most expect Missouri to follow as a slave state • Original statehood bill proposed that Missouri be a slave state but must gradually free it’s slaves • Passes the House, but fails Senate • What now? • Henry Clay and others work to resolve the issue • Reach a compromise

6. Missouri Compromise (1820) • Missouri admitted as slave state • Maine admitted as free state • Dividing line created for the rest of Louisiana Territory • 36°30’ N Parallel line • “Missouri Compromise Line” • States north of line = free • States south of line = slave • Missouri is an exception

7. Major Trails • The settlers needed routes to travel • Many of these were formed along traditional Native American trade routes and trails • Oregon Trail • Made well-known after missionaries traveled all the way to Oregon • Independence, Missouri to Portland, Oregon • Santa Fe Trail • Stretched from Independence, Missouri to SanteFe, NewMexico • 780 miles • Much of the stretch was dangerous (Native American attacks, weather, drought, terrain)

8. Western Settlers • Even before government action created new territories & states, many Americans left their homes and headed west • Why might they want to settle the west? • Seemed adventurous! • New opportunities • Exploration • Avoid creditors or the law • Religious persecution

9. The Mormon Migration • Migrated along the Oregon Trail • First established in New York by JosephSmith • Faced persecution in New York, Illinois, & Missouri • Smith eventually murdered by angry mobs • New leader Brigham Young • Moves followers out of U.S. territory and settle in Salt Lake City, Utah

10. Speaking of Oregon… • The Oregon Territory (not a state yet) was a point of conflict for U.S. and Britain • Britain also claimed parts of Maine and Minnesota in the 1840s • Webster-Ashburton Treaty (1842) takes care of Maine and Minnesota • Continued a “joint occupation” of Oregon • James Polk during 1844 election adopts slogan “Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!” • Wanted to annex all of Oregon • Nations eventually agree to new boundaries

11. Mission System • Before Mexican independence in 1821, Native Americans & settlers often encountered “Mexican” populations as a result of Spanish Missions • Missions were locations/churches set up by the Spanish crown in order to convert people to Catholicism • Missions decline after Mexico’s independence

12. Impact of Independence • After Mexican independence: • Many Native Americans forced in to labor or they fled • Trade opportunities between Mexico and United States • Northern provinces (present day Arizona, New Mexico, California, Texas) • Mexico found that it was hard to control and protect such a large, spread out piece of land • Native American attacks • Mexico invited U.S. settlers

13. Land Grants • Mexico’s government offered landgrants (give them land!) to empesarios • Empesarios then would attract other American settlers to the land • American (Anglo) population soon outnumbered the tejanopopulation • Tejano = Mexicans living in Texas

14. Stephen F. Austin • StephenF. Austin would become one of the most well known empesarios • Offered land to over 300 families, each receiving 177 acres of farmland OR 4,000 acres of ranchland • Given this success, Presidents JohnQuincyAdams and AndrewJackson both tried to purchase Texas • By 1936, Texas population was • 3,500 Tejanos • 12,000 Native Americans • 45,000 Anglo Americans • 5,000 African Americans • So what exactly “is” Texas now?

15. Calls for Independence • Austin had been advocating for greater self-government in Texas • Imprisoned on return home from Mexican capital by Mexican President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna • Several rebellions erupted • Santa Anna marches troops to San Antonio in an effort to force Texas back under Mexican control • In 1835, Texans attack Mexican troops at the Alamo

16. “Remember the Alamo” • In response to his forces being driven from the Alamo, SantaAnna attacks Americans at the Alamo and kills many • SamHouston, an American “Texan,” leads the Texans in their eventual defeat of Mexico in the BattleofSanJacinto • Shoutsof “Remember the Alamo” • September 1836, SamHouston becomes president of RepublicofTexas • Becomes a state in 1845

17. Polk Pushes War • PresidentPolk comes to office in 1844 • Believes that only way to settle continuedtension with Mexico is through war • Annexation of Texas made tensions worse • Sectionalism meant different views of war • Abolitionists and many northernersopposed expansion and the war • Southernersfavored expansion in order to expand slavery

18. War Begins • Mexican American War begins when GeneralZacharyTaylor leads U.S. troops to the Rio Grande river • Mexico views as violation of their rights and sends troops across the river • 9 Americans killed • Polk then uses this to convince Congress of the need for war • Who “started” it?

19. Not Just Texas! • Polk has plans to capture more than just Texas during this war • Kearny marches to NewMexico, falls without a single shot fired • RepublicofCalifornia • Polk once again offers to buy California • Instead, group of American settlers led by JohnC. Fremont take control of town of Sonoma • Declare independence from Mexico

20. California Gold Rush

21. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo • War ends with the TreatyofGuadalupeHidalgo • Sets the Rio Grande as border between U.S. – Mexico • Still today • U.S. agrees to pay $15 for land that will include • Texas • California • Nevada • New Mexico • Utah • Arizona • Parts of Colorado and Wyoming

22. Gadsden Purchase (1853) • 5 years later, United States “completes the set” and acquires remaining land of present-day Southwest • GadsdenPurchase • Establishes current borders