The Antebellum West

The Antebellum WestExpansion and Conflict

Manifest DestinySection 1

Expansionist Mentality Economic Panic of 1839 drove people

away from East East also lacked land—west didn’t 1845 Sullivan claimed destiny of

Americans to “overspread the continent”› Ordained by God

Much of rhetoric racially and culturally superior

The Journey West Glowing accounts

of OR and CA drew huge parties of migrants

2,000 mile, half-year, trek west started in Independence MO

Overland Trail led north west to OR, CA or NM

By 1860 350,000 had braved trails› 34,000 died, only 500 from Indians› Donner Party

Politics of Expansion MEX declared independence 1821 1843 OR conventions called for a split

from joint US-UK control Tyler and Calhoun proposed annexation

of TX and OR Election of 1844 hinged on annexation Democrat Polk ran a pro-expansion

campaign against Clay

Southwest ExpansionismSection 2

Southwestern Tensions MEX offered land grants to American in

TX 1824› Had to be Catholic and speak Spanish, most

obeyed neither› Americans also brought slaves

By 1830s over 30,000 Americans were in Mexican Texas

1834 Mexican Gen. Santa Anna took control of the region and Americans rebelled

The Politics of Texas American rebellion led to an assault on

the Alamo in San Antonio Americans declared the independence of

the Republic of Texas 1836› Sam Houston led forces to crush Santa Anna

at the Battle of San Jacinto Annexation was contentious:

› TX would likely be a slave state Tyler saw Polk’s electoral victory as a sign

to annex TX—1845

Polk the Expansionist Polk was a protégé of Jackson, pushed

expansion Sought a split of OR from British Canada

at 54’ 40’› Compromised at 49’› Northern Democrats wanted OR as a free

state, southern Democrats TX as slave Polk saw to buy CA and NM from

MEX using their debt as leverage› After losing TX, MEX wasn’t interested

War with MexicoSection 3

Path to War MEX said border with TX was Nueces

river, US said Rio Grande Polk sent Gen. Zachary Taylor to the

disputed zone b/w rivers When Mexican forces attacked Taylor,

Polk asked for a declaration of war Congress approved May 13, 1846

Mr. Polk’s War The purchase of CA and NM for $30m

failed Rebellion in CA was encouraged US naval forces responded by closing

ports while a ground campaign severed CA from MEX› US captured Santa Fe› Winfield Scott struck deep into MEX advancing

to the capital Santa Anna agreed to peace (1847)

War’s End Treaty of Guadalupe

Hidalgo ended war 1848 MEX ceded modern CA,

NM, AZ and parts of TX, UT, CO and NV

US seized over ½ of MEX—paid $15m Emerson said: Mexico will poison us” Rep Wilmot (PA) proposed limiting

slavery in new territories

Election of 1848 1848 election defined by slavery and

Wilmot Provisio Democrats nominated Cass

› Cass championed popular sovereignty: states choose to be slave or not

Whigs chose winning Gen. Taylor Free Soil Party gathered non-slave

Whigs, northern Democrats, and Liberty Party supporters