Chapter 16 Expanding West 1790 1850 Chapter 16

Chapter 16 Expanding West (1790 -1850)

Chapter 16 Expanding West (1790 -1850) Section 1 The Spanish West and Southwest

Life in Northern New Spain • New Spain’s northern frontier was made up of California, New Mexico, and Texas – New Mexico = oldest; capital = Santa Fe • Spanish colonists and Pueblo Indians influenced one another in New Mexico’s small, scattered villages – Spanish changed many aspects of Pueblo life – brought new tools and new foods to region – Spanish introduced to beans and corn; began to build adobes

Life in Northern New Spain • Life in California different from life in New Mexico – Missions = center of life; between 1769 -1823, 21 missions built – Spanish military forts (presidios) protected missions • Hoped military presence would keep British and Russians out of region • Missions held great deal of land – used for farming and ranching – American Indians performed most of the labor • Missions supported themselves selling goods to local communities • Spanish colonists in California known as Californios – cut off from rest of New Spain because of distance

Early Texas • Spain built up to 40 missions in Texas – Weaker than the mission system in California – Texas missions further apart and they often fought with local American Indians (Apache and Comanche) • Fewer Spanish settlers moved to Texas (Tejanos)

Early Texas • Spanish government offered land grants to settlers – By mid-1700 s only a few thousand Tejanos lived in Texas • Introduced new breeds of cattle and soon created cattle-ranching society • Comanche and Apache still controlled much of Texas, limited Spanish expansion

Mexico Gains Independence • 1810 – 80, 000 poor American Indians and Mestizos in Mexico joined in revolt against Spanish rule – Led by Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (Mexican priest) • Rebels hoped independence would improve living conditions • As Father Hidalgo marched army across countryside he began reforms such as ending enslavement and unfair taxation of American Indians

Mexico Gains Independence • Hidalgo could not unite all Mexican villages; Spanish defeated rebels, killed the priest • Father José María Morelos y Pavón continued revolution and Hidalgos reforms; fought bravely until captured in 1815 • Agustín de Iturbide – led rebels to defeat Spanish in 1821 – Made himself Mexico’s emperor; stepped down after 1½ years • New congress created a new constitution (1824) – made Mexico a republic – Country included what is now Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Utah – Contained parts of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Wyoming

Changes in California and Texas • 1833 Mexico ended Spanish mission system in California and gave mission lands to Californios – Group of about 500 families created large ranches – largest had up to 90, 000 acres – For most American Indians, life did not greatly improve with end of mission system • Texas merged with Mexican province of Coahuila to form Coahuila y Texas • Many Tejanos were chased away or killed during war – Mexican officials worried so few people could not protect all of Texas • Government decided to recruit more settlers to protect northern frontier from American Indian attacks or possible invasion

Chapter 16 Expanding West (1790 -1850) Section 2 Texas Gains Independence

American Settlers in Texas • Empresarios, or agents, were hired by Mexico to bring settlers to Texas – Received land – as much as 67, 000 acres for every 200 families • Stephen Austin selected colony on the lower Colorado River – First 300 settlers became known as “Old Three Hundred” – He worked to keep the peace between the Mexican government and American settlers • Most American settlers came from southern states – Attracted by promise of free or cheap land

Trouble in Texas • Mexico set requirements foreign immigrants (1821) – Had to become Mexican citizen, obey Mexican laws, and support the Roman Catholic Church • Most U. S. settlers not interested in adapting to Mexican culture or becoming Mexican citizens • By 1830, there were more American settlers than Tejanos – Ignored Mexican laws, acted as though still in U. S. – Many went to Texas illegally, felt little loyalty to Mexico

Trouble in Texas • Americans and Tejanos argued they were not fairly represented in Mexican government – Mexican central government too powerful; called for Constitution of 1824 to be more strictly followed • Mexico responded by enforcing laws more strictly – Worked to keep settlers from bringing in slaves – Tariffs on goods from U. S. raised – Sent more soldiers to Texas

Trouble in Texas (continued) • Austin tried to keep peace; went to Mexico with petition asking for more self-government (1833); thrown in jail • General Antonio López de Santa Anna elected president of Mexico (1833) – Suspended constitution in 1834 • Austin released from jail after 1 ½ years, called for all Texans to rebel

The Texas Revolution Begins • Started in the town of Gonzales when Mexican army tried to remove a cannon located there – Texans defeated Mexican soldiers after brief battle • Nov. 1835 – group of Texans formed a temporary government – Goals – defeating Santa Anna and restoring Mexican Constitution • Texas volunteers captured the towns of Goliad and San Antonio

The Texas Revolution Begins • Texans occupied the Alamo – led by William Travis, Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett • Santa Anna led 1800 troops to San Antonio to put down rebellion – Travis refused to retreat – Santa Anna arrived February 23, 1836, Travis only had 189 troops – Mexicans surrounded the Alamo for 13 days; attacked and overpowered Texans – all defenders of the Alamo killed

The Texas Revolution Begins (continued) • “Remember the Alamo!” became the rallying cry in Texas and the U. S. because survivors like Susanna Dickinson and others spread the story of the Alamo • Mexican forces attacked troops near town of Goliad – Texans outnumbered – Texas Commander James Fannin chose to surrender – Santa Anna executed Commander Fannin and some troops

Texas Becomes a Republic • Texas delegates met to declare their independence from Mexico four days before the Battle of the Alamo – Texas Declaration of Independence and Constitution were modeled on U. S. – Texas Constitution specifically made slavery legal – David Burnet – temporary president; Lorenzo de Zavala

Texas Becomes a Republic • Sam Houston became commander in chief of Texas army – Outnumbered and untrained his soldiers had to retreat east • Battle of San Jacinto (near present-day Houston) – Houston’s army launched surprise attack – “Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!” – Santa Anna’s troops drive back and trapped in nearby woods • Santa Anna captured and forced to sign treaty giving Texas independence (1844) – Many Mexican officials did not accept Texas as being independent

Chapter 16 Expanding West (1790 -1850) Section 3 The Lone Star Republic

Texas Faces the World • Republic of Texas – independent nation of Texas – Capital – Houston – Sam Houston elected president (former governor of Tennessee); Mirabeau Lamar – VP • New government asked the U. S. to annex Texas in 1837 – Members of Congress wanted to annex but President Jackson (and later President Van Buren) was concerned because Texas supported slavery • Also, Jackson did not want to go to war with Mexico

Texas Faces the World • U. S. recognized Texas as independent nation; France did in 1839, Great Britain in 1840 – Mexico still refused to agree that Texas had become independent

American Indians and Tejanos • Houston established peaceful relations with American Indians • Indian policy changed (became more harsh) in 1838 when Mirabeau Lamar became president – Demanded American Indians leave homelands and follow all Texas laws – threatened military action if they refused • Fighting broke out with the Cherokee and Comanche – Raids increased – Texans believed Cherokee were plotting with Mexico to overthrow the republic

American Indians and Tejanos • Houston elected to 2 nd term (1841), fighting slowed – Texans had already forced most American Indians from their eastern lands • Relations with Americans and Tejanos suffered in New Republic – Tejanos often faced unfair treatment – lost land, political power and property

New Immigrants • TX offered land grants to American and European settlers to increase population – 1840 -1841 – gave out nearly 37 million acres • Largest group of immigrants to TX was from U. S. – In search of land, economic opportunities, particularly after Panic of 1837 – Majority from southern states; most small farmers, did not own slaves • Slaveholders attracted because TX constitution made slavery legal – Population of enslaved African Americans increased from 5000 (1836) to 70, 000(1845)

New Immigrants • Laws of republic made life former slaves difficult – Free African Americans banned from immigrating to TX – Free African Americans living within TX would have to leave within 2 years or be sold into slavery • Germans made up largest group of European immigrants to TX – Laws had to published in German and English (1843) – Established farming communities • French, Irish, Czech, and Polish also immigrated

Struggles of the Republic • Small, scattered population; faced challenges as any independent country would • Only 4 TX towns had population greater than 1000 – Galveston, Houston, New Braunfels, San Antonio • Travel between newer settlements was slow, difficult and often dangerous • Significant economic problems – Economy based largely on farming and ranching – Had little cash; new nation was almost bankrupt • Taxes on imports and property failed to bring in much revenue

Struggles of the Republic • Government’s lack of funds made it difficult for TX to defend vast territory – Houston forced to disband most of TX army due to discipline problems – Relied on militia companies and Texas Rangers for defense and frontier protection

Struggles of the Republic • Mexico still considered TX to be its property • 1841 – Lamar authorized military attack on Santa Fe in Mexican territory of New Mexico – Invasion lacked approval of Texas Congress and failed – Mexican army took control of San Antonio on 2 occasions • Peace treaty signed in 1844 after Houston returned to presidency

Chapter 16 Expanding West (1790 -1850) Section 4 Oregon and the Far West

The Fur Traders • First non-American Indians who traveled to Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest were fur traders and trappers a/k/a mountain men • American Fur Company = one of the largest businesses that bought furs from trappers; owned by John Jacob Astor

The Fur Traders • Mountain men adopted American Indian Customs and clothing to survive; often married American Indian women • Bringing furs out of Rocky Mountains = expensive – Traders often stayed in mountains, met once a year to trade and socialize = rendezvous • Filled with celebrating, storytelling; conducting business • Era of American fur trading in Pacific Northwest lasted a short time – Demand for beaver furs fell as fashions changed – Too much trapping lowered supply – Some trappers moved back east; others began guiding farmers, miners and ranchers to the west

Oregon Country • 1811 – John Jacob Astor founded Astoria as center for fur trade at the mouth of the Columbia River (Pacific northwest) – Small outpost = one of the earliest American settlements in the region later called Oregon Country) • Beginning of 1800 s – Oregon Country occupied by American Indians

Oregon Country • Great Britain, Russia, Spain and U. S. claimed the region – U. S. claim based on exploration of merchant captain Robert Gray (1792) • Adams-Onis Treaty – Spain gave up claims to land beyond the northern border of what is now California • Russia signed a treaty with U. S. – gave up claims to southern border of what is now Alaska • U. S. and Britain signed treaty in 1818 allowing both to occupy Oregon Country – Extended treaty in 1827 – did not state how long shared ownership would last

The Missionary Spirit • Missionaries were among first Americans to settle Oregon Country – Some churches wanted to bring Christianity to American Indians in Far West during 2 nd Great Awakening • Marcus and Narcissa Whitman – missionaries – Settled in Walla – present-day Washington state – Founded a mission called Waiilatpu – Limited success – Efforts ended in tragedy – killed by angry American Indians after epidemic killed many children

A New Life Out West • Thousands from the Midwest moved to Oregon Country looking to improve their lives – Newspapers encouraged movement; reported rich farmland, great forests, rivers full of fish, good climate • New territorial government set up in 1843 set up system of land grants to attract more settlers • Most new settlers moved into the Willamette Valley – Majority stayed and prospered in what is now Oregon – Others settled in what is now Washington • Population growth led to increased conflict with American Indians and greater tension with Great Britain

The Oregon Trail • Many settlers moving to Oregon followed the Oregon Trail – Stretched more than 2, 000 miles across the northern Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains

The Oregon Trail • Started journey in Independence or St. Joseph, Missouri or Council Bluffs, Iowa • Lasted about 6 months • Gathered in wagon trains • Shortages of food, supplies and water were a constant problem • Faced weather and natural barriers

Opening the American West

Chapter 16 Expanding West (1790 -1850) Section 5 California and the Southwest

Going to California • 1830 s and 1840 s California still under Mexican rule • Main route to California started with Oregon Trail – California Trail ran through the Sierra Nevada mountains – tried to cross before first snow • Donner party – western travelers with bad luck and poor judgment – Began journey west in spring of 1846 – Left main trail and got lost looking for shortcut – Trapped in heavy snow when they reached the Sierra Nevada – When rescue party found them, 42 of the 87 had died

Going to California • California became a meeting ground for merchants from Mexico and the U. S. • Mexicans and American Indians made up most of California’s population • Mexico gave Swiss immigrant John Sutter permission to start a colony in 1839 – Sutter’s Fort was located near the Sacramento River and became a popular rest stop for American immigrants

Other Southwestern Trails • After Mexico gained its independence in 1821, the Mexican government agreed to allow American merchants to come to New Mexico – Seized opportunity by starting the Santa Fe Trail – ran from Independence, Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico – Loaded wagons with cloth and other manufactured goods to exchange for horses, mules and silver • U. S. government offered traders protection by sending troops and providing money to ensure American Indian cooperation

Frontier Artists • Artists inspired to travel west with explorers to the frontier • George Catlin gave up career as portrait painter in Philadelphia to go west – Painted more than 500 images of American Indians • Alfred Jacob Miller traveled through the Rocky Mountains painting the landscape