Manifest Destiny & the American

West

Manifest Destiny & the American West

People moving West hoped to People moving West hoped to transplant Eastern culture theretransplant Eastern culture thereSymbols of the “Old West”Symbols of the “Old West”The truth about the West is The truth about the West is largely obscuredlargely obscured

Manifest Destiny

An Incentive to Move

• Settlers could work a Settlers could work a plot for 5 yrs & then plot for 5 yrs & then get the land for freeget the land for free

• Could also pay $1.25 Could also pay $1.25 an acre and own it an acre and own it after six monthsafter six months

• Sad truth was that Sad truth was that very few farmers very few farmers could afford either could afford either methodmethod

New Territories

• Mexico controlled all Mexico controlled all of present-day Texas, of present-day Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Utah, Nevada, California, as well as California, as well as parts of Colorado and parts of Colorado and WyomingWyoming

• British had British had Washington, Oregon, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and parts of Idaho, and parts of the Dakotasthe Dakotas

Texas Government

FIVE PROBLEMSFIVE PROBLEMS1)1) Protestantism vs. CatholicismProtestantism vs. Catholicism2)2) American desire for slaveryAmerican desire for slavery3)3) Texas was attached to CoahuilaTexas was attached to Coahuila4)4) Heavy tax on U.S. importsHeavy tax on U.S. imports5)5) Mexico outlawed new immigrationMexico outlawed new immigration

* All of these events combined to * All of these events combined to produce tension before we get to produce tension before we get to the Alamothe Alamo

Remember the Alamo

• Originally named Misión Originally named Misión San Antonio de Valero, San Antonio de Valero, soldiers referred to the soldiers referred to the old mission as the old mission as the Alamo (the Spanish Alamo (the Spanish word for "cottonwood")word for "cottonwood")

• On February 23, 1836, On February 23, 1836, Santa Anna caught the Santa Anna caught the Texians by surpriseTexians by surprise

• Held out for 13 days Held out for 13 days until March 6, 1836until March 6, 1836

• 20 women and children 20 women and children were spared, as was Joe, were spared, as was Joe, Travis’ slaveTravis’ slave

Texas Revolution

• Texan constitutional Texan constitutional convention formally convention formally adopted a adopted a Declaration of Declaration of Independence on Independence on March 2, 1836March 2, 1836

• On April 21, Houston On April 21, Houston attacked Santa attacked Santa Anna’s troops & Anna’s troops & captured the General captured the General the following daythe following day

What to do with Texas?

• Re-enter John Tyler, Re-enter John Tyler, “his Accidency”“his Accidency”

• He seized on Texas He seized on Texas admission as a way admission as a way to possibly resurrect to possibly resurrect his political fortuneshis political fortunes

• Appointed John C. Appointed John C. Calhoun as his Calhoun as his Secretary of State, Secretary of State, who failed to push a who failed to push a Texas treaty Texas treaty through Congressthrough Congress

Presidential Election of 1844

• Mexico had never Mexico had never recognized Texan recognized Texan independenceindependence

• If the 1820 Missouri If the 1820 Missouri Compromise held, Compromise held, western territories western territories would be slave stateswould be slave states

• James K. Polk James K. Polk defeated Henry Clay defeated Henry Clay by linking Texas, the by linking Texas, the tariff, Oregon, and tariff, Oregon, and CaliforniaCalifornia

Polk’s Wishlist

1) TEXAS – 1) TEXAS – Annexation Annexation passed thru passed thru Congress Congress because because Mexico Mexico “surrendered” “surrendered” for $18 for $18 millionmillion

2) OREGON – 2) OREGON – Negotiated an Negotiated an 1846 treaty 1846 treaty for ½ of for ½ of Oregon, Oregon, avoiding war avoiding war with Britainwith Britain

3) THE TARIFF 3) THE TARIFF – Wanting to – Wanting to maximize maximize revenue, Polk revenue, Polk lowered the lowered the tariff which tariff which made the made the South happySouth happy

4) CALIFORNIA – 4) CALIFORNIA – Mexico refuses Mexico refuses to sell us the to sell us the territory…UH-territory…UH-OH!OH!

Mexican War of 1846-1848

• The crux of why Mexico would object to our troops is a The crux of why Mexico would object to our troops is a dispute over where the border was…the U.S. claimed it was dispute over where the border was…the U.S. claimed it was the Rio Grande, while the Mexicans claimed it was 150 miles the Rio Grande, while the Mexicans claimed it was 150 miles north at the Nueces Rivernorth at the Nueces River

Winning the Mexican War

• Mexico simply did Mexico simply did not have the not have the resources to fight a resources to fight a war with the U.S.war with the U.S.

• Problem was they Problem was they might surrender might surrender their whole countrytheir whole country

• War with Mexico War with Mexico cost 13,000 cost 13,000 American lives, American lives, 50,000 Mexican 50,000 Mexican lives, and $97 lives, and $97 millionmillion

California Gold Rush of 1848