Chapter 17

Manifest Destiny and War

(1840-1860)

Chapter 17

Manifest Destiny and War (1840-1860)

Section 1

Manifest Destiny and Expansion

The Roots of Manifest Destiny

Many believed the U.S. was sure to expand all the way to the Pacific Ocean Believed nothing could stop growth from taking place

Expansionist view became known as manifest destiny – term first used by John O’Sullivan

Roots of manifest destiny lay in Americans’ economic, political, and social experiences Puritans believed America was a promised land that God had

given them to set up new society American Revolution added to idea that America was special –

U.S. would prove that democracy could work in large and growing country

Some believed new lands needed to prevent increased social tensions as city populations grew larger

Farmers wanted more land to grow crops, industry needed more natural resources, businesses wanted more markets for American goods

Gone West

By 1840s, many Americans had accepted idea of manifest destiny Thought U.S. chosen by God to spread its

democratic, economic and religious values Americans would spread across the continent taking

liberty, improving the land, and spreading the Christian gospel

Many built settlements beyond the boundaries of the U.S. California, Texas, Oregon – attracted by rich farmland

Supporters of manifest destiny ignored the fact that there were already thousands of American Indians and Mexicans living in the west Saw the west as being not fully developed by those living

there

The Election of 1844 President John Tyler helped make western expansion

an important subject in the election of 1844 Tyler had been elected William Henry Harrison’s vice

president in 1840, became president when Harrison died in April 1841 (31 days into his term)

Tyler = proslavery Whig from Virginia; wanted to extend political power of the southern slave states Believed annexation of Texas would help by adding another

slave state to the country Tyler too unpopular within his own party to win the

nomination for the 1844 election Whigs chose Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky –

started out against the annexation of Texas, but began to waiver under pressure from southern voters

Democratic Party chose former Tennessee governor James K. Polk – favored acquiring both Texas and Oregon

Polk defeated Clay

Acquiring New Territory President Polk was sure that he could bring Oregon

and Texas into the U.S. As more Americans began to settle in the Oregon

Country, they began to ask that Oregon become a part of the U.S. Polk wanted to protect their interests Other politicians wanted Oregon because it would provide a

Pacific port for trade with China

War seemed possible between U.S. and Britain over where the border between the U.S. and Canada should be Expansionists – “Fifty-four forty or fight!” (54°40’ parallel) Neither side wanted war

Acquiring New Territory (continued)

Britain and U.S. signed a treaty giving the U.S. all Oregon land south of the 49th parallel Drew the present-day border between Canada and the U.S. in the

Pacific Northwest Oregon became a U.S. territory in August 1848

Congress approved annexation of Texas by March 1845 – only needed support of Republic of Texas

Texas Congress approved annexation in June and Texas became the 28th state in December 1845 Texas politicians hoped that joining the U.S. would help

solve the republic’s financial and military problems Action angered the Mexican government – called

Texas a “stolen province”

War Breaks Out

Mexico cut off all diplomatic ties to the U.S. Ordered American settlers to leave California and

banned further American immigration there Continued to reject Texas and U.S. claim that

the Rio Grande marked the southern border of Texas; argued real border lay along the Nueces River farther north

June 1845 Polk ordered General Zachary Taylor to take U.S. troops into disputed border region Intended to protect Texas from possible attack

Polk sent diplomat John Slidell to Mexico City to negotiate the boundary dispute Offer to buy California and New Mexico from Mexican

government for $30 million Officials refused to speak with him

War Breaks Out (continued)

March 1846, General Taylor led troops to the Rio Grande and made camp

April 1846, Mexican commander insisted he remove troops or else

Taylor refused to move; Mexican soldiers crossed the river and attacked a group of U.S. soldiers

Congress declared war on Mexico on May 13, 1846

Chapter 17 Manifest Destiny and War

(1840-1860)

Section 2

The Mexican War

Responses to War

At beginning U.S. forces greatly outnumbered but had better weapons and equipment U.S. government called for 50,000 volunteers; got

approximately 200,000 Several “firsts” with Mexican War

First U.S. war fought mainly on foreign soil First time many newspapers covered a U.S. conflict One of the first to be photographed

Home front – men and women collected supplies and wrote patriotic poems and songs

War led to greater national pride Many who supported war said it would spread republican

values

Responses to the War (continued)

Not everyone supported the war Many Whigs believed it was unjustified and unnecessary Upset those who were against expansion or war

Transcendentalist writers Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson

Northern abolitionists opposed war because they feared U.S. would gain lands in Southwest – southern states would try to establish slavery there

Proslavery southerners feared slavery would be banned

American Victories Victories drove Mexican troops back into Mexico

Even before the official war declaration, General Zachary Taylor’s soldiers fought and won battles south of the Nueces River

Defeated Mexican forces at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma (May 1846)

Taylor crossed the Rio Grande and occupied Matamoros; waited for reinforcements

Polk ordered Brigadier General Stephen Kearny to attack New Mexico Took Santa Fe without a fight, claimed New Mexico for the

U.S. Marched toward Southern California in June 1846

Bear Flag Revolt Small group of American settlers near Sonoma revolted against

Californios Rebels declared California an independent republic, created a

flag with a single star and grizzly bear John C. Fremont – army explorer who played an important role

American Victories (continued)

During Bear Flag Revolt, U.S. Navy took Monterey – capital of California

Towns of San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco fell to Americans

August 1846 – Commodore Robert Stockton declared California belonged to the U.S.

General Kearny was appointed governor of California by President Polk

The War’s End Taylor finally got reinforcements in Mexico

Drove Mexican army deeper into Mexico After U.S. won battle at Monterrey, both sides

spend a few months trying to improve their positions

General Santa Anna took over Mexico’s government Led army north clashing with Taylor’s troops at

Buena Vista Santa Anna sent note demanding Taylor’s

surrender – refused Taylor’s success earned him popularity with

troops and at home – “Old Rough and Ready” Popularity bothered President Polk who feared he

would try to run for president in 1848 Polk also afraid he would not be able to win war

The War’s End (continued)

President Polk gave Taylor’s command to General Winfield Scott – “Old Fuss and Feathers”

Scott sailed to Veracruz (the strongest fortress in Mexico) – after 88 hour attack, fell to Scott

Scott pushed inland toward Mexico City – made it to edge of city by August 1847

Scott ordered massive attack after a truce failed to end the war

U.S. soldiers captured Mexico City on September 14, 1847 – ended the Mexican War

More New Territories Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo signed February 1848

ceded, or turned over, much of Mexico’s northern territory to the U.S.

Mexican Cession – land included most of Arizona and New Mexico and parts of Colorado and Wyoming

U.S. also got area claimed by Texas north of the Rio Grande Totaled more than 500,000 square miles Increased the size of the U.S. by almost 25%

U.S. agreed to pay Mexico $15 million and to assume claims of more than $3 million held by American citizens against Mexico

Treaty caused controversy Some Americans wanted all of Mexico Antislavery and antiwar activists (thought Mexicans

would not make good republican citizens) and Whigs all against treaty

More New Territories (continued)

Polk pointed to benefits U.S. would gain from the treaty

Senate ratified the treaty in March 1848

Gadsden Purchase negotiated in December 1853 – U.S. paid Mexico $10 million for southern parts of what are now Arizona and New Mexico – continental boundaries of U.S. finally fixed

Chapter 17 Manifest Destiny and War

(1840-1860)

Section 3

More Settlers Head West

Conflicts over LandFlood of trappers, traders, settlers and

speculators moved to SouthwestMost Mexican, Mexican Americans and

American Indians faced legal, economic and social discrimination

American newcomers struggled to control land and other valuable resources such as water and minerals

Treaty of Guadelupe Hidalgo promised to protect the rights of residents of the Mexican Cession U.S. government often made Mexican American

landowners go to court to prove they had title to land

Often bankrupted landowners

Conflicts over Land (continued) New settlers usually ignored Mexican legal ideas such as

community property or community water rights Conflicts over ownership of cattle and sheep – common Rich Tejanos tried to protect property by marrying into powerful Anglo

families Steady arrival of new settlers and policies of the U.S.

government greatly affected American Indians in the Southwest Tried to take control of valuable water resources and grazing lands Settlers rarely respected Indian holy places such as mountain lakes

and burial grounds Indian raiding parties took settlers’ cattle and attacked

settlements Angry westerners fought raiding parties; attacked Indian peoples or

villages not involved in fighting, causing new conflict

Cultural Encounters Despite conflicts, American Indian, Mexican and

Anglo cultures influenced one another in the Southwest

Laws often printed in both English and Spanish in settlements with large Mexican American population

Spanish language was important in trade and daily life, especially in California, New Mexico and Texas

Place names show Mexican and American Indian heritage – San Antonio, San Diego, Taos, etc.

Mexican and American Indian knowledge and traditions shaped the local economies Mexican Americans taught Anglo settlers about mining

the mountains Introduced new types of saddles, clothing and other

equipment to American ranchers

Cultural Encounters (continued)

Adobe, a building material developed by the Anasazi, was adopted by the Spanish from the Pueblo

Trade changed the Southwest and the people living there

Americans brought manufactured goods and money to the Southwest New firearms and other trade goods

Navajo made and sold more silver objects and hand-woven woolen blankets

The Mormons Joseph Smith founded the Church of Jesus Christ of

Latter-Day Saints in western New York (1830) Became known as Mormons Smith told his followers that he had found and translated a set

of golden tablets containing religious revelations – writings became the Book of Mormon

Mormons stressed hard work and community; church membership grew rapidly

Some beliefs made them target of persecution – some Mormon men practiced polygamy (one man married to more than one woman at the same time)

Early 1830s, Smith and followers left New York; settled in Ohio first, then Missouri Left Ohio when their bank collapsed during the Panic of 1837 Left Missouri when they were chased out

From Missouri, they moved to Illinois where an anti-Mormon mob murdered Smith in jail

The Mormons (continued) Brigham Young became the head of the Mormon

Church Mormons decided to move west to build a new

community Young chose what is now Utah – an area overlooking the

Great Salt Lake By 1860, about 40,000 Mormons lived in Utah

Tens of thousands of Mormons took to the Mormon Trail – fleeing persecution in the East and the Midwest (Americans and Mormon converts from Great Britain and Scandinavia)

Main Mormon settlement at Salt Lake City became a thriving community with broad roads and surrounding farms

Young chose the site for the Mormon’s Great Temple

Chapter 17 Manifest Destiny and War

(1840-1860)

Section 4

The Gold Rush

The Forty-Niners James Marshall discovered gold near Sutter’s Mill

(California) on January 24, 1848 John Sutter learned that gold was discovered on his property,

he and James Marshall agreed to keep it a secret Sutter and Marshall went to examine the work site, found a

Spanish-speaking Indian work holding a piece of gold shouting “Oro! Oro!”

Sutter’s workers quit to search for gold Stories began spreading across the country

President Polk confirmed the California gold strike in his farewell message to Congress in December 1848

California Gold Rush (1849) caused a huge rise in California’s population Approximately 80,000 gold-seekers went to California

hoping to strike it rich; 80% = American, 20% = foreign Migrants were known as forty-niners

The Forty-Niners (continued) Many easterners and Europeans took one of two major

sea routes Down Atlantic coast and up Pacific coast of South America

took 6-9 months but fairly safe Combined ship and land travel across Nicaragua or Isthmus

of Panama Shorter, but had to cross jungle; risked catching diseases like malaria or

yellow fever Midwestern gold seekers usually traveled in wagon

trains along overland routes (South Pass of Rocky Mountains or Santa Fe Trail)

Regardless of method of travel, most arrived in San Francisco Port town with natural harbor Located close to newly discovered gold strikes Grew more rapidly than any city in the world at the time

March 1848 = 500 to 25,000 by 1850

Gold Fever

Few forty-niners had mining experience – most did not become rich

Would prospect (or search) for gold along banks of streams or in shallow surface mines

Worked an area that ran for 70 miles in northern California Later began searching the Sierra Nevada Mountains

Miners banded together First to arrive would “stake a claim” Miners agreed that each would keep a share of

whatever gold was discovered

Gold Fever (continued)

When one group abandoned a claim, more recent arrivals took it over, hoping for success

Sometimes two or more groups staked rival claims in same areaLed to conflicts sometimes violent

1853 California’s gold production peaked at more than $60 million

Mining Camps and Towns

Camps sprang up wherever enough people gathered to look for gold Often disappeared as quickly as they were built

Miners made money one day and were broke the next Theft and miscommunication = common Rarely any local authorities to provide law and order

Some tried to prevent violence and stealing, others lived wild and dangerous lives

Miners came from many different cultural backgrounds Most were young, unmarried men

Some settlers took advantage of free enterprise conditions Slaves brought in benefited from California’s position on

slavery (most opposed)

Immigrants to California Lure of gold attracted miners from around the world to

California Famine and economic hardships in southeastern China

encouraged many Chinese men to come to America – “travelers to Gold Mountain” 24,000 between 1849 and 1853

Chinese immigrants were not welcomed by Americans High monthly tax placed on all foreign miners Targets of violent attacks

Chinese immigrants continued working in mines despite poor treatment Some looked for different jobs, opened own businesses

Other immigrants came from Europe, Mexico and S. America

Most new arrivals intended to return home after they had made their fortunes When they did not become rich, they decided to stay

Levi Strauss – German immigrant made fortune selling tough denim work pants to miners

Growth in the West

Business growth, gold mining, and trade transformed California’s economy

As the gold rush faded, frontier society became more stable

California’s population explosion made it eligible for statehood only two years after being acquired by the United States (31st in 1850)