American ExpansionismWeek 2 Days 1 and 2

How the United States became a much larger country

Lewis and Clark Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were two U.S. Army officers commissioned

by President Thomas Jefferson to explore the land acquired by the Louisiana Purchase and beyond.

Their expedition took 3 years and took them from Illinois to present day Oregon.

The explorers collected scientific data, discovered water routes and mapped the entire territory

Missouri Compromise

This was a controversial agreement in the U.S. Congress allowing the new state of Missouri admittance into the United States as a slave state.

Southern states wanted this happen because they believed it would allow slavery to remain legal.

Northern states, who anti-slavery, such as New York fought against Missouri’s admittance.

The Missouri compromise was struck to allow Missouri citizens to own slaves if Maine was admitted without slaves.

Indian Removal Act of 1830 Law passed by Congress and

supported by President Andrew Jackson to relocate Native Tribes from Southern territories to the Great Plains.

Areas vacated: were Florida, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Georgia.

Areas relocated to: Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa, North/South Dakota.

The relocations were involuntary and the “Indians” were placed on reservations

The Cherokee nation sued for their land rights in the Worcester vs. Georgia court case but Jackson refused to honor the decision giving land rights back.

Trail of Tears After the forced the relocation of the Cherokee nation and other

tribes due to the Indian Removal Act.

Many Native Tribes tried to resist the relocation but they were outnumbered and outgunned by the U.S. Military.

The route that the natives traveled with filled with sadness, misery and tears

Sequoyah An important Cherokee nation

member who admired the writing system of whites.

He became a silversmith and businessman.

His most important contribution to the Cherokee nation was his creation of a written language.

The Cherokee language was so complicated decided to create symbols for each syllable instead of each letter.

His writing system was responsible for increased the literacy rates of the entire Cherokee Nation.

The Alamo and Texan conflicts in Mexico In the early to mid 1800s Mexico wanted

Americans to migrate to Mexico to develop the land and bring residents to the area.

The Americans came and were led by Stephen F. Austin who later became upset at the level of taxes charged by Mexico.

Americans rebelled and were crushed at an old Spanish Fort named the Alamo American was killed by the Mexican army.

Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842 During the 1700s and 1800s there border disputes between the British

and French. Later on the disputes were between the Americans and France.

Thousands of Native Americans also lived in these territories which made the conflicts trickier because more people meant more bloodshed.

In 1842 the Webster-Ashburton Treaty created a permanent border between Lake Superior and Maine, U.S./New Brunswick, Canada.

Oregon Trail The Oregon Trail was an over 2,000 mile land route [traveled road] staring in

Missouri and ending in present Oregon.

It was started in parts buy men trading animal furs and later completed/used by Mormon religious pilgrims.

The terrain [land surface] was rough, hilly, mountainous and occupied by hostile native tribes. Thousands of people died along the route for reasons such as disease, starvation and “Indian attacks.”

54º40’ or Fight!

The dispute [argument] over the border between Oregon and Canada caused a lot of concern in the U.S. Government.

Because the U.S. wanted to expand it was willing to fight to gain property rights to the Pacific Northwest.

At first England and the U.S. agreed to share the territory but the term 54º40’ or Fight! Refers to Americans willing to fight for the land.

A treaty signed later settled the dispute and a border was accepted by both sides.

Election of 1844 The presidential election of 1844 was one the closest in U.S. History

[decided by less than 10,000 votes].

The election was so close because disputes over borders with Canada and Mexico.

James Polk was in favor of peaceful settlements. War hawk Henry Clay was in favor of fighting to end the disputes if necessary. Polk won the election.

James K. Polk Henry Clay

Texas AnnexationTexas Annexation Stephen F. Austin and the Texans Stephen F. Austin and the Texans

had defeated the Mexican Army had defeated the Mexican Army led by Mexican General Santa led by Mexican General Santa Anna in several battles.Anna in several battles.

For 6 years (1836-1842) Austin For 6 years (1836-1842) Austin served as the leader of the served as the leader of the Republic of TexasRepublic of Texas. This territory . This territory was not recognized by Mexico.was not recognized by Mexico.

In 1845 the In 1845 the United StatesUnited States annexedannexed [took in] [took in] TexasTexas as the as the 2828thth state. Mexico was furious state. Mexico was furious about this and this led to a war about this and this led to a war between the U.S. and Mexico between the U.S. and Mexico from 1846-1848.from 1846-1848.

Wilmot ProvisoWilmot Proviso Congressman David Wilmot from Congressman David Wilmot from

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania proposed an proposed an amendment to a federal law amendment to a federal law banning slaverybanning slavery in any territory the in any territory the United States captured from United States captured from Mexico.Mexico.

This was similar to the situation This was similar to the situation dealing with the Missouri dealing with the Missouri compromise.compromise.

Southern states were concerned Southern states were concerned banning slavery anywhere would banning slavery anywhere would lead to banning slavery lead to banning slavery everywhere.everywhere.

The Wilmot proviso was not The Wilmot proviso was not passed.passed.

Mexican WarMexican War,, the the Treaty of Guadalupe-HidalgoTreaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo andand Mexican Mexican

cessioncession After the United States annexed Texas Mexico was furious and After the United States annexed Texas Mexico was furious and

declared war in 1846 to regain the territory.declared war in 1846 to regain the territory. Because the U.S. had a more powerful army with more effective Because the U.S. had a more powerful army with more effective

weapons it was able to defeat Mexico within 3 years by 1849.weapons it was able to defeat Mexico within 3 years by 1849. The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo was signed ending the war. The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo was signed ending the war.

Mexico Mexico cededceded [gave up, transferred] California, Arizona, [gave up, transferred] California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and New Mexico to the U.S. for $18 million.Nevada, Utah and New Mexico to the U.S. for $18 million.

49ers49ers The Mexican The Mexican cessioncession of California gave citizens an of California gave citizens an

opportunity to start new communities. Thousands of people opportunity to start new communities. Thousands of people headed West.headed West.

Prospectors discovered gold in Northern California in Prospectors discovered gold in Northern California in 18491849. . News spread to other parts of the U.S.. American men from News spread to other parts of the U.S.. American men from all over all over rushed to Californiarushed to California they were called they were called 49ers49ers [because of the year].[because of the year].

The mad scramble was called the Gold rush of 1849. The mad scramble was called the Gold rush of 1849. Boomtowns sprang up all over where people discovered gold.Boomtowns sprang up all over where people discovered gold.

Gadsden PurchaseGadsden Purchase The Transcontinental Railroad had been spreading across the United The Transcontinental Railroad had been spreading across the United

States. States.

Because of bad geography [poor soil conditions] the Because of bad geography [poor soil conditions] the U.S. decided to U.S. decided to buy landbuy land South of New Mexico and Arizona. South of New Mexico and Arizona.

The sale of the land by the U.S. for $10 million from Mexico was called The sale of the land by the U.S. for $10 million from Mexico was called the the Gadsden PurchaseGadsden Purchase. .

Four Corners Four Corners Lewis and Clark were courageous for going on Lewis and Clark were courageous for going on

their expedition into the Louisiana Territorytheir expedition into the Louisiana Territory

It was perfectly acceptable to forcefully remove It was perfectly acceptable to forcefully remove and relocate the Cherokee off their landand relocate the Cherokee off their land

Mexico had the right to be upset when the United Mexico had the right to be upset when the United States annexed TexasStates annexed Texas

Image sources http://www.ohs.org/education/focus/images/lewis_clark_mast.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Carte_Lewis-Clark_Expedition-en.png http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:AndyJackson.jpg http://www.cherokee-indian-art.com/images/Cherokee%20Trail%20Of%20Tears.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sequoyah_Arranged_Syllabary_.png http://spider.georgetowncollege.edu/htallant/courses/his325/WEBSTER.gif http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Oregoncountry.png http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:JamesKnoxPolk.png http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:David_Wilmot.png http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~hummingbird/California/mexican.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:California_Clipper_500.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gullgraver_1850_California.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gadsden_Purchase_Cities_ZP.svg