Westward Expansion Manifest Destiny
Jan 17, 2016
Westward Expansion
Manifest Destiny
Manifest DestinyAmerica’s Natural Destiny FateTo expand into Texas and continue
to control all of the land to the Pacific Ocean
Ordained by GodJohn L. O’Sullivan
3 Areas
Texas
California
Oregon
6 Reasons for Manifest Destiny
1. Business = new Pacific ports 2. Expand farming = more new land 3. Immigrants arrive & need more land 4. Create new markets for goods 5. Depression of 1837 – new start 6. Spread the idea of freedom & democracy
Development of Texas
Farmers, Traders Welcomed
Mexico welcomes Americans
Mexico encourages trade along the Santa Fe Trail.
Problems:
Protection from savage Indians, Comanches, Apaches, Navajos, and Utes
Americans are welcomed if they will obey Mexican law and follow the Roman Catholic religion
Settlement of Texas
Stephen Austin accepts their offer300 families get 13,000 acres of
land for farming, grazing, ranchingMost settlers were Southern &
brought slaves.
Problems Arise
Mexicans close the border in 1830 but lacked the military to enforce this closure
Settlers were mostly Protestant, spoke only English, & ignored Mexican law which forbade slavery
Americans push to extend the boundary to Rio Grande River
More Problems
Number of Americans swells1835 = 1000 Americans a month 1836 = 30,000 Americans
4,000 Mexicans5,000 slaves
Independence
Ask for the right to have an separate state within the Mexican Union.
Texas is declared an independent state
Sam Houston
Texan Leader: imprisoned for 18 months after asking for Independence for Texas
Santa Anna & the Alamo
the leading villain of Texas history
http://www.thealamo.org/index.html
The Alamo: a small mission in San Antonio
The Defenders = 200 Slaughtered
Davy Crockett and the Alamo By thealamofilm.com
May 2, 2005, 05:34
The Attackers =
Brutal Response =
The Burning 13 days
Before the battle, Santa Anna
ordered that a red flag be raised indicating to the defenders that no quarter would be given. Several defenders who had not been killed in battle were captured and executed. Among its defenders were James Bowie (the leader of the militia forces), Crockett and Travis. About two dozen women and children and two slaves at the Alamo, named Ben and Jim, were released.
Remember the Alamo!!!!
Houston & troops surprise Santa Anna later
Kill half of Santa Anna’s Men
Take Santa Anna as Prisoner
Force a Peace Treaty giving Texas it’s independence.
Texas
Sam Houston is named PresidentFrance and Britain recognize Texas
as an independent state.
Lone Star State
Lone Star State
Creates a small navy & army
Texas is annexed into the U.S
28th state December 29, 1845
Austin
James K. Polk
Who is James k. Polk? For Annexation of Texas Wanted Oregon Territory Hail to the Chief.
Henry Clay
Whig Party “Glorious Henry Clay”
Lost New York…
Immigrants, especially Irish wanted expansion to the West..
Oregon
54/ 40 or Fight
Oregon Northern Boundary The Brits agree. Vancouver Island to Brits. Independent Treasury.
California
21 Missions Polk wants to buy it!
1853 Gadsden Purchase
Completes the border of the Continental U.S.
War on Mexico
$2 million is owed to Americans Alamo & Goliad Massacre Rio Grande is the Boundary
Taylor & Troops stay on Border
Of Corpus Christie & begged for an attack.
“American blood has been shed on American Soil”.
Justify the war.
Mexicans outnumber Americans
But disorganized. American weapons are better. New Mexico & California come into
American hands.
$15 million paid for: 1.2 million sq. miles
California, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming.
Wilmot Proviso: No slavery in
This new territory!!
Henry Clay: Great Compromise
He is near death. It is his finest hour. Spoke for 2 days in
1850. It is the last important speech of his life.
Clay’s Bill covers everything.
But would be defeated as one huge package.
Stephen Douglas divided it -
Successfully AdoptedCompromise of 1850
Calhoun dies
South Carolina
Supporter of the Southern Lifestyle
Webster & Clay also die.
Great Orator
People believe that peace &
Harmony would reign in our fine, free country.
Sectional Strife appears over.