Motives for Expansion Motives for Expansion and Western Settlementand Western Settlement

Chapter 6 Chapter 6

Section 2Section 2

In the 1800s many Americans came to In the 1800s many Americans came to believe that their country was destined believe that their country was destined to expand westward. to expand westward.

They spoke of Manifest Destiny.They spoke of Manifest Destiny. (The American Claim) is by the right of (The American Claim) is by the right of

our manifest destiny to overspread and our manifest destiny to overspread and to possess the whole of the continent to possess the whole of the continent which Providence has given us for the which Providence has given us for the development of the great experiment of development of the great experiment of liberty...liberty...

-John O’Sullivan, Democratic Review-John O’Sullivan, Democratic Review

Congress passed a number of laws to Congress passed a number of laws to encourage settlement of the West.encourage settlement of the West.

By aiding both East and West, Congress By aiding both East and West, Congress hoped to tie the nation together as one hoped to tie the nation together as one economic unit.economic unit.

The American System was an ambitious The American System was an ambitious plan for linking the economic fortunes of plan for linking the economic fortunes of the East and West in a scheme to build the East and West in a scheme to build roads and canals.roads and canals.

Congress voted for a high tariff on Congress voted for a high tariff on European imports that would encourage European imports that would encourage westerners to buy their supplies from westerners to buy their supplies from eastern manufacturers. eastern manufacturers.

Texas, Oregon, California, Texas, Oregon, California, Southern Arizona and New Southern Arizona and New Mexico were four western Mexico were four western territories were added to the territories were added to the United States between 1845 United States between 1845 and 1853.and 1853.

Texas was the first new Texas was the first new territory added to the United territory added to the United States in the 1840s.States in the 1840s.

Annexation of TexasAnnexation of Texas

In the 1820s Texas was settled by only In the 1820s Texas was settled by only a few thousand Mexicans.a few thousand Mexicans.

As a result, the Mexican government As a result, the Mexican government did not object when the open land did not object when the open land attracted pioneer families from the attracted pioneer families from the United States.United States.

Most were from the South and many Most were from the South and many owned slaves.owned slaves.

By the mid-1830s, however, there were By the mid-1830s, however, there were more American settlers in Texas than more American settlers in Texas than Mexicans.Mexicans.

The Americans often defied Mexico’s The Americans often defied Mexico’s laws, including its ban against laws, including its ban against holding slaves.holding slaves.

When Mexico tried to stop further When Mexico tried to stop further American immigration, the American American immigration, the American settlers revolted and declared Texas settlers revolted and declared Texas an independent nation (1836).an independent nation (1836).

Determined to put down the revolt, Determined to put down the revolt, Mexican president Antonio Lopez de Mexican president Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna led troops into Texas.Santa Anna led troops into Texas.

His forces overwhelmed and His forces overwhelmed and killed the Texan defenders killed the Texan defenders who were occupying the who were occupying the Alamo, a church mission Alamo, a church mission turned into a fort.turned into a fort.

Soon afterward, however, Soon afterward, however, during a battle on the San during a battle on the San Jacinto River, the Texans Jacinto River, the Texans captured Santa Anna, who was captured Santa Anna, who was forced to grant their demand forced to grant their demand for independence. for independence.

Texas was a completely a separate Texas was a completely a separate and independent nation: The Lone and independent nation: The Lone Star Republic for Nine years.Star Republic for Nine years.

The proposed annexation of Texas The proposed annexation of Texas failed to receive favorable votes in failed to receive favorable votes in Congress and the chief obstacle Congress and the chief obstacle was slavery. Was the reason for was slavery. Was the reason for why it took so long for Texas to be why it took so long for Texas to be admitted into the Union as a state.admitted into the Union as a state.

Mexican American WarMexican American War

The annexation of Texas worsened The annexation of Texas worsened U.S. relations with Mexico.U.S. relations with Mexico.

President Polk’s dream of expansion President Polk’s dream of expansion and America’s notion of Manifest and America’s notion of Manifest Destiny. Destiny.

There was also a dispute over the There was also a dispute over the boundary between Texas and boundary between Texas and Mexico.Mexico.

These two issues caused the War These two issues caused the War with Mexico.with Mexico.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, 18481848

Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott were the Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott were the two generals led the invasion into Mexicotwo generals led the invasion into Mexico

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, 1848 ended The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, 1848 ended the Mexican War.the Mexican War.

The terms of the treaty were the United States The terms of the treaty were the United States paid the token sum of $15 million to Mexico for paid the token sum of $15 million to Mexico for the huge territory extending from Texas’s the huge territory extending from Texas’s western border all the way to the California western border all the way to the California coast. coast.

In addition, the United States agreed to relieve In addition, the United States agreed to relieve Mexico of the responsibility for paying the $3.2 Mexico of the responsibility for paying the $3.2 million in debts to U.S. citizens. million in debts to U.S. citizens.

The Rio Grande was established as the U.S. The Rio Grande was established as the U.S. Mexican border.Mexican border.

Gold Rush in CaliforniaGold Rush in California

Soon after the war, an American settler Soon after the war, an American settler discovered gold on his land. discovered gold on his land.

News of the discovery touched off News of the discovery touched off excitement in the East and throughout the excitement in the East and throughout the world.world.

Fortune hunters poured into California in Fortune hunters poured into California in search of gold nuggets.search of gold nuggets.

““California or bust” was the slogan of California or bust” was the slogan of thousands of people who joined the great thousands of people who joined the great 1849 gold rush. 1849 gold rush.

Most met with disappointment but Most met with disappointment but even so, California’s population grew even so, California’s population grew so rapidly that it soon qualified to so rapidly that it soon qualified to apply to Congress for statehood.apply to Congress for statehood.

Because California proposed to be a Because California proposed to be a nonslave, or free state, the South nonslave, or free state, the South strongly opposed its admission.strongly opposed its admission.

Gadsden PurchaseGadsden Purchase

The last section of land acquired The last section of land acquired from Mexico was won without from Mexico was won without violence. violence.

This land the Gadsden Purchase This land the Gadsden Purchase was bought from Mexico in 1853 was bought from Mexico in 1853 for $10 million.for $10 million.

James Gadsden was the American James Gadsden was the American diplomat who arranged the diplomat who arranged the transfer.transfer.

Dispute Over OregonDispute Over Oregon

The United States and Great Britain The United States and Great Britain were at conflict over the Oregon were at conflict over the Oregon territory.territory.

The reasons why both nations did not The reasons why both nations did not want a war with each other over the want a war with each other over the Oregon Territory were that Great Oregon Territory were that Great Britain wanted to preserve its good Britain wanted to preserve its good trade relations with the United States. trade relations with the United States.

The United States, at war with Mexico The United States, at war with Mexico in 1846, had no desire to see Great in 1846, had no desire to see Great Britain go to Mexico’s aid.Britain go to Mexico’s aid.

In 1844 many Americans wanted In 1844 many Americans wanted control of the entire Oregon control of the entire Oregon Territory and would no longer Territory and would no longer accept a joint occupation. accept a joint occupation.

They heartily approved of the They heartily approved of the Democratic campaign slogan: Democratic campaign slogan: “Fifty-four forty or fight!” which “Fifty-four forty or fight!” which meant: make Great Britain give meant: make Great Britain give up all of Oregon to the 54 40’ up all of Oregon to the 54 40’ line. line.

SettlementSettlement Diplomats on both sides managed to work Diplomats on both sides managed to work

out a compromise.out a compromise. A British American Treaty of 1846 divided A British American Treaty of 1846 divided

the Oregon Country into two roughly equal the Oregon Country into two roughly equal halves.halves.

The northern half went to Great Britain.The northern half went to Great Britain. The southern half (below the 49th parallel of The southern half (below the 49th parallel of

latitude) went to the United States.latitude) went to the United States. Two long term results of the treaty were Two long term results of the treaty were

that the border between Canada and the that the border between Canada and the United States was extended to the Pacific United States was extended to the Pacific Ocean and relations between Great Britain Ocean and relations between Great Britain and the United States were much improved.and the United States were much improved.

Impact of Western Expansion Impact of Western Expansion Upon MexicansUpon Mexicans

Mexico lost land, natural resources, Mexico lost land, natural resources, thousands Mexican citizens became thousands Mexican citizens became citizens of the United States, many citizens of the United States, many former Mexican landowners took low former Mexican landowners took low paying jobs as farm workers or as paying jobs as farm workers or as laborers in mines or the railroad. laborers in mines or the railroad.

This resulted in prejudices and This resulted in prejudices and discrimination towards Mexicans discrimination towards Mexicans from Americans.from Americans.

Impact of Western Expansion Impact of Western Expansion Upon Native AmericansUpon Native Americans

Spreading of diseases in which Native Spreading of diseases in which Native Americans had no immunity which Americans had no immunity which caused Native American populations to caused Native American populations to be severely reduced. be severely reduced.

Destruction of wildlife like the buffalo Destruction of wildlife like the buffalo and settlers increasingly taking Native and settlers increasingly taking Native American s’ lands, resulted in a series American s’ lands, resulted in a series of wars as Native Americans fought to of wars as Native Americans fought to defend their territory. defend their territory.

Eventually they were forced to give up Eventually they were forced to give up their lands and move to reservations. their lands and move to reservations.