MANIFEST DESTINYMANIFEST DESTINYSea to Shining SeaSea to Shining Sea

Westward ExpansionWestward Expansion

• As population expands, Americans look WEST.• Manifest Destiny: US was destined (God’s will) to expand to

the Pacific Ocean• People moved for…

1) Land 2) Business Opportunity3)Escape religious

Persecution (Mormons)

• Westbound Travelers used Indian trade routes:• 1) Oregon Trail – from Missouri to Oregon• 2) Santa Fe Trail – from Missouri to New Mexico• 3) Mormon Trail – Led by Joseph Smith & later Brigham Young.

Mormons headed to Utah

Texas Independence

• 1820: Americans settle in Spanish Texas • 1821: Mexico gains independence from Spain, Mexico

welcomes Americans (economic growth & stability)• 1830: More Americans than Mexicans in the territory, American

settlers & Mexicans clash over slavery

• 1835: Stephen Austin starts Texas independence movement

• Mexican Pres. Santa Anna sends army to stop Austin’s mvmnt

Remember the Alamo!Remember the Alamo!

• 1836: American troops enter the Alamo, Santa Anna’s troops attack & win

• Later, 300 American rebels were executed by Santa Anna• In response, Sam Houston leads rebels & capture Santa Anna,

forcing him to sign the Treaty of VelascoTreaty of Velasco• Texas gets independence, Houston becomes President of

Republic of Texas

Mexican-American War• Pres. Polk (pro-slavery) wants Texas to join US, Texas does• Texas & Mexico having a dispute over borders (page 134)• Polk proposes new borders and wants Mexico to sell N. Mexico

& California – Mexico refuses• 1845: Small fights breakout on Texas-Mexico border, Polk asks

for declaration of war

Results of the WarResults of the War

• 1846: American settlers seize Sonoma, declare Republic of California, w/ help of American troops Mexico beaten in CA

• Mexico loses war, signs Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo (1848)• Mexico gives US land to Pacific, US will pay $15 million for land• 5 yrs later, Gadsden Purchase & Oregon allow more expansion• 1848: Gold found in California, 49ers begin mining gold• CA economy booming! “Go West Young Man” is new slogan

The Gold RushThe Gold Rush

• Gold found in Sutter’s Mill, CA – 1848• Migration

– 1848: 400 – 1850: 44,000

“The blacksmith dropped his hammer, the carpenter his plane, the mason his trowel, the farmer his sickle, the baker his loaf, and the tapster (bar-tender) his bottle. All were off to the mines… I have only a community of women left, and a gang of prisoners, with here and there a soldier who will give his captain the slip at first chance. I don’t blame the fellow a whit; seven dollars a month, while others (prospectors) are making two or three hundred a day!” – Walter Colton

“Go West, Young Man”

- Horace Greeley

“GO WEST, YOUNG MAN!”

- Horace Greeley