“You May All Go To Hell…and I will go to Texas!”

American Expansion WestHonors U.S. History

- Davy Crockett

Remember the…something

• Mexico wants Americans to come to the Mexican state of Texas– Would provide a buffer against Indian attacks– Willing to offer cheap land

• Americans practicing slavery in Texas– Outlawed in Mexico

• Mexican President and General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna marches into Texas

• Texans rebel against Mexican army

The uhh…what do you call it…

• Americans lead by William Barrett Travis and Davy Crockett form a resistance– Their final area of defense was an abandoned

Spanish Mission known as The Alamo

• Americans survived for eleven days

• Mexicans eventually defeat the Americans

• The Alamo becomes a symbol of American resistance

THE ALAMO!

Texas, Annex, and Mexico

• Texas admitted to the Union in 1844

• Mexico and US disagree over southern border of Texas

• 1846 – 1848: Mexican-American War

• 1848: Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo– Mexico gives up Texas– CA, NV, UT, AZ, NM, CO,

WY sold to USA for $15 million

Manifest Destiny

The Original 49ers

• 1848 – Gold is discovered in California• 1849 – Roughly 300,000 people move to

California• Very few actually find enough gold to survive• Those that prospered did so through gold-

related businesses– Kitchens– Supply stores– Taverns

Establishing Borders

• Gadsden Purchase (1853) – Possible southern route for transcontinental RR

• Borders near Maine and Minnesota established

• Border between US and Canada set at 49 degrees– 54’40 or Fight!

• Attempted to buy Cuba from the Spanish– Hoping to extend slavery– Cash in on Cuban sugar

plantations