Looking Westwardpp. 348-359

Manifest DestinyManifest Destiny Writer John O’Sullivan coined the phrase in 1845

Destined by God & history to expand from coast to coast

Fit w/ nationalism movement

Racial motives for expansion “Racial purity” & superiority of the “American race”

Expansion opposed by some, including Clay Would re-open debate of spreading slavery westward

TexasTexas 1803—Claimed by U.S. in LA Purchase

1819—Given to Spain as part of Adams-Onis Treaty

1821—Becomes part of Mexico as Mexico gains its independence, American settlement is encouraged

1835—30K Americans living in Texas

1836—Americans in Texas declare their independence from Mexico/Texas gains independence

1845—After much debate, the U.S. annexes Texas; Mexico breaks diplomatic ties w/ U.S. JQA & AJ had both tried to purchase TX previously

Oregon TerritoryOregon Territory Claimed by both Brits (George Vancouver) & the U.S. (Robert

Gray)

1818—Agreed to joint occupation

1820s/1830s—Few white settlers, mostly fur traders

1836—Marcus & Narcissa Whitman est. mission

1843—Oregon Trail popularized; 5K settlers w/in next 2 yrs.

1846—Despite “54° 40° or Fight,” Polk settles border at 49° N (same as today)

1847—Cayuse Indians attack & kill Whitmans

Election of 1844Election of 1844

Polk ran on a pro-expansion platform

Clay avoided the issue of annexing Texas

TrailsTrails Oregon Trail

California Trail

Mormon Trail

Santa Fe Trail

*See map on p. 353

Life on the TrailLife on the Trail “Jumping off towns”

Independence, MO; St. Joseph, MO & Council Bluffs, IA

Mostly family units until Gold Rush; hired guides

2,000 miles; 4-6 months

Various hardships: Weather, disease (cholera & typhoid fever), rugged terrain

Native Americans often acted as guides & trade partners; occasional conflict, but often sensationalized *More deaths from accidental gunshots than Native attacks

Mexican WarMexican War Mexico refused to recognize Texas’ independence

Border dispute (Rio Grande or Neuces?); see map on p. 356

Polk sends Zachary Taylor to TX & tells navy to capture CA ports if Mexico declares war

Polk then offered to buy disputed areas (Slidel, $25 million for NM & CA)

War declared in May of 1846; overwhelmingly supported by Congress

War had many critics Ulysses S. Grant, Abraham Lincoln, Henry David Thoreau See quotes on p. 357

Mexican WarMexican War Stephen Kearny captured Santa Fe w/ no opposition (1846)

Kearny & Fremont captured California (1846) Bear Flag Revolt

Winfield Scott captures Mexico City (1847)

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) Mexican Cession (see map on p. 358) U.S. paid $15 million Some wanted “All Mexico!”

Wilmot ProvisoWilmot Proviso What is the status of slavery in the newly acquired

territory?

David Wilmot, from PA, anti-slavery Democrat

Proviso prohibited slavery in new territory

Passed House, but not Senate

Debate lingered; sectionalism intensified