Manifest Destiny

What is Manifest Destiny? What caused it (consider when it happened and what occurred prior) ? God-given right Americans felt they had to move across the continent to the Pacific. Time leading up to this included the Louisiana Purchase that doubled the size of the US, the Treaty of Ghent which removed the British from the Midwest (Ohio River valley), Market Revolution which included transportation improvements, new industry, new inventions, and economic growth, the Mexican War which allowed the US to gain California and present day SW US.

TexasWho went/ Why? Southerners desiring new land for cotton farming, Mexican government allowed

Americans to come for free if they would pledge allegiance, convert to Catholicism, and agreed to no slavery

Leaders Stephen F. Austin – brought 300 families to settle Sam Houston – war hero during the war for independence

What led to the fight for independence?

Texans did not cooperate with Mexican law, Americans outnumbered Mexicans in Texas 7 to 1, Santa Ana would not allow Texas to self-govern

“Remember the Alamo” Rally cry for the war, brought US support for Texan independence

James K. Polk PresidencyPolk ran on a platform of expansion. He promised to set the northern border of Oregon at 54 40’ latitude line with the slogan “Fifty-four Forty or Fight” if the British disagreed. In reality, he agreed to set the boundary at the 49 th parallel which angered many northerners who voted for him.Polk also increased tensions with Mexico after the annexation of Texas when he offered to buy California and New Mexico territory. He even sent US troops to the border of Texas and Mexico. Northerners opposed to war with Mexico was nicknamed “Mr. Polk’s War” by those who complained he was adding territory to expand slavery.

Mexican WarWhat was it? Significance

Wilmot Proviso Northern congressmen did not approve war with Mexico – called it a war to expand slavery (“Mr. Polk’s War”). To gain northern support, David Wilmot proposed that no land won in the war with Mexico would contain slavery.

Proviso was never signed into law, but did create some support from northern politicians. Once the war was over and California desired statehood, the proviso was forgotten and replaced with popular sovereignty (the people in a territory vote on the slave issue)

Causes of the War Polk could not work out a plan to purchase New Mexico territory and California. With the Texas border in dispute, Polk saw a chance to fight Mexico – a victory would give the US a more southern border of Texas, the New Mexico territory, and California.

Treaty of Guadalupe – Hidalgo

Ended the war with Mexico. US gained New Mexico territory which became most of New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, and Colorado. California was also gained.

California Gold Rush (who? Where? Impact on California?) people hoping to get rich became known as the 49ers, raced into northern California. City of San Francisco felt the biggest impact with immigration growth. At first, California had little control over law and order. Quickly, California asked for statehood and was admitted under the Compromise of 1850.

Gadsden Purchase (what? Why?) 15 million dollar purchase of land to build a southern transcontinental railroad, set the present day southern border of Arizona and part of SW New Mexico. Became a controversial issue when Stephen Douglas proposed the transcontinental railroad should be build farther north connecting Chicago to San Francisco.