Chapter 15 Manifest Destiny and the Growing Nation

Chapter 15 – Manifest Destiny and the Growing Nation How justifiable was U. S. expansion in the 1800 s?

Preview

15. 2 – The Louisiana Purchase • The Mighty Mississippi was a lifeline for farmers in the early 1800 s – They would float their crops down to New Orleans, and from there send them to Europe or the East Coast

• Louisiana – Given to Spain after the French and Indian War, it was returned to France when Napoleon convinced Spain to return the territory. – Napoleon had grand plans for the territory • Create farms & use the food for slaves in the Caribbean sugar plantations – His plans alarmed American settlers, who worried that the New Orleans port might be closed to them at some point

• “A Nobel Bargain” – Jefferson sent James Monroe buy New Orleans – By the time he got there, things had changed • There was a slave revolt in Haiti • France was on the brink of war with Britain – Yes… again – Napoleon no longer needed New Orleans, or any other part of the territory, so he offered it all up for $15 million!!

Yes, all of this!! WHOA!

• The Purchase Debate – What a bargain! • 2 -3 cents per acre!! – There were opponents and critics • “We have too much land!” • “Jefferson is tearing up the Constitution!” • “He pushed me!” – Oh, not that last one… – In 1803, the Senate backed Jefferson’s purchase to secure the western territory!

15. 3 – Florida • Once they had the Louisiana Territory, Jefferson set his eyes on purchasing Florida from Spain to put an end to the conflicts and raids. – Spain said, “no!” (which is Spanish for… no) • American response – “Take it by force!” – “My slaves keep running away. ” – “The Indians keep attacking my land!” – “He hit me!”

• Andrew Jackson Invades Florida – In 1818, Jackson was sent by President Monroe to end the raids. Instead of following orders, he INVADED the Spanish colony, captured every military post, and installed an American governor. • Spain = not happy • Called for Jackson to be punished for his illegal invasion

• “Govern or Get Out” – Every member of Monroe’s cabinet said to dump Jackson and apologize to Spain. • All but one that is… – John Quincy Adams convinced Monroe to send a message to Spain – either govern Florida, or leave – Afraid of war, Spain abandoned Florida! • We just had to pay off some debts • Spain was promised Texas was theirs to keep – Muahahaha….

15. 4 – Texas • Americans Come to Texas – Moses & Stephen Austin paved the way for American settlers, and with Spain’s permission, they set up a colony

• Rising Tensions – The American colony was very successful, and tensions began to rise. • Mexico had outlawed slavery, yet colonists brought slaves • They were mad about Americans illegally immigrating to Texas –. . . • The Mexican government, fed up with the chaos, closed Texas from further American immigration

• The Texans Rebel – Americans didn’t like the decision – In 1835, after trying to negotiate, Texans rose up in revolt – General Santa Anna sent 6, 000 troops to squash the rebellion

• The Alamo – The army reached San Antonio, Texas, where 180 volunteers held up at an old mission, the Alamo. – For 12 days, Mexicans pounded the Alamo with cannonballs • Then the attack – They fought for 90 minutes, and it was done • The defenders were dead – Santa Anna saw it as a great victory • Texans were filled with rage, and vowed revenge

• Texas Wins Its Independence – Sam Houston’s strategy for defeating Santa Anna was to lure him deep into Texas. • Cutoff from supplies, it was impossible for the Mexican general to keep his men battle-ready – It wasn’t popular, but it worked – Santa Anna didn’t expect Houston’s attack, and Texans overran their camp shouting “Remember the Alamo!” – Texas won its independence!

• To Annex Texas or Not? – Texas became know as the Lone Star Republic • However, many wanted to join the United States – For 10 years, the state was independent because there was so much controversy • Would it be a slave state? – North dreaded – South gleeful • Would it lead to war with Mexico?

• James K. Polk, believer in Manifest Destiny, wanted to acquire Texas. After he was elected, Congress annexed Texas. Later, it was admitted as the 28 th state.

15. 5 – Oregon Country • In 1819, the Oregon territory belonged to 4 countries 1. Russia • Agreed to land north of what is now the southern border of Alaska 2. Spain • Part of the treaty that gave us Florida ALSO made Spain give up this claim

3. Great Britain 4. United States – What to do with Britain and the U. S. ? – For now, “joint occupation” was the solution • Discovering Oregon – Lewis and Clark did discover much of Oregon during their adventure (we’ll cover that in Ch 16)

• Oregon Fever – Missionaries were the first settlers to travel through. • They were not successful at converting Indians, but they did bring back tales of rich, fertile land – In 1843, thousands packed their possessions in covered wagons, and headed west for a new start. – “Oregon Fever has broken out, and is now raging. ”

• All of Oregon or Half? – Annexing Texas and acquiring Oregon were key to the 1844 presidential campaign. • Polk won with slogans such as: – “All of Oregon or none!” – “Fifty-four forty or fight!” – Instead of fighting Britain for it, they designed a treaty, which marks the US/Canada border today • While he didn’t get all of the land, American and Britain proved that the pen was mightier than the sword.

15. 6 – War with Mexico

Chapter 16 – Life in the West What were the motives, hardships, and legacies of the groups that moved west in the 1800 s?

16. 2 – The Explorers

• Thomas Jefferson hired Lewis and Clark to set out into the West. – Their public job was to make contact with the Native American tribes. – Their secret mission, which they chose to accept, was to find a “Northwest Passage” • A route to India, which is the whole reason America was “found” in the first place – Also, Jefferson wasn’t quite sure what he had purchased from Napoleon.

• Up the Missouri River – The 45 member group left in May of 1804 from St. Louis, Missouri. • The Arch marks this spot today

– The group rowed upstream, and by summer, reached Indian country • Most were welcoming, and fascinated by Clark’s slave York because they had never seen a black man before – In the winter, they camped in what is now North Dakota • Here they met and were joined by a French fur trapper and his wife, a Native American named Sacagawea. • She had been kidnapped from her people as a girl, so they hoped she’d be able to translate for them

• To the Pacific and Back – In the spring 1805, they moved slowly through obstacles • Thorns and grizzly bears – They reached Sacagawea’s people, and she learned her brother was now a chief of the Shoshone people! – They made it over the Rockies… barely • The Indians saved them from starvation – December 3, 1805, they reached the Pacific Ocean

• The Explorers’ Legacy – 2 years and 4 months later, the explorers returned to St. Louis – Other explorers set out as well • Zebulon Pike (Pike’s Peak is named after him!) explored the southern part of the Louisiana Territory, and then down into the Spanish territory along the Rio Grande • John C. Fremont mapped the territory between the Mississippi Valley and Pacific Ocean in the 1840 s

Crash Course #17

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