The American Journey Chapter 11 Manifest Destiny Section

The American Journey Chapter 11: Manifest Destiny Section 1: Westward to the Pacific -ORNicole Has Died of Dysentery

To the Oregon Country! • 1840’s-1850’s: thousands of families set out for Oregon Country. ▫ Huge area between Rockies and Pacific Ocean.

To the Oregon Country! • Four nations claim Oregon: U. S. , Britain, Spain, & Russia. ▫ U. S. base claim partially on Lewis & Clark explorations. ▫ U. S. & Britain have both explored Columbia River. ▫ Spain owns Ca. & claims land to the North. ▫ Russia has settlements on West Coast from Alaska to Ca.

How We Gain Oregon • 1818: Secretary of State John Quincy Adams works out deal w/ Britain for joint occupation of Oregon. ▫ This means either country’s settlers can move in. • 1819: Secretary of State Adams negotiates w/ Spain, who gives up claim to Oregon. ▫ The Adams-Onís Treaty • 1824: Russia also cedes its claim.

The Fur Trade & Mountain Men • First Americans to settle Oregon are fur traders trapping beavers. ▫ 1808: John Jacob Astor sets up American Fur Co. • Fur companies hire mountain men, fur trappers who often take on Native American wives & lifestyles and live in mountains.

Carving Out a Life in the Wilderness • Mountain men explore mountains as they hunt beaver. ▫ Robert Stuart & Jedediah Smith discover South Pass thru Rockies, later the main route to Oregon. • Eventually beavers are scarce & less in demand, and mountain men have to live in wilderness as guides. It’s completely ridiculous how many beaver clip-art images there are. But can I find anything on the Trail of Tears? Nope. I mean…a beaver playing lacrosse? !

Settling Oregon • Fertile western lands & economic troubles in the East make Oregon look really good. ▫ Many early settlers are Christian missionaries. • Early 1840’s: “Oregon fever” strikes; thousands of families in Mississippi Valley set out on “great migration. ” ▫ Emigrants = people who leave their home. • Most emigrants leave from Independence, Missouri & follow the Oregon Trail.

The Oregon Trail isn’t easy.

The Oregon Trail • Oregon Trail takes settlers across Great Plains, along Platte River, through South Pass of Rockies, along Snake & Columbia Rivers, into Oregon’s Willamette Valley. • American population of Oregon increases from 500 5, 000. ▫ Question of ownership again comes up. ▫ Britain’s population in Oregon remains 700.

Trails West

Manifest Destiny • 1819: Newspaper editor John O’Sullivan says it’s America’s Manifest Destiny to spread across the whole American continent. ▫ Many Americans agree. ▫ Manifest Destiny: the belief that God provided the continent for Americans to possess, from Atlantic to Pacific.

“Fifty-Four Forty or Fight” • 1844: Democrats nominate James K. Polk for president. ▫ Whigs nominate Henry Clay. • Polk wins election when he & Democrats strongly call for sole American possession of Oregon. ▫ Democrats feel that 54º 40’ N latitude should be the Northern boundary of American Oregon. Rallying cry: “Fifty-four Forty or Fight!” ▫ 1846: line is set at compromise of 49º N.

54º 40’

The American Journey Chapter 11: Manifest Destiny Section 2: Independence for Texas -ORForget the Alamo, Just Give Me Back My Stinking Country!

Conflict Over Texas • 1803: Jefferson bought Louisiana Purchase from France. ▫ Was Spain’s before then. • The U. S. claimed Texas as part of Louisiana. ▫ Spain protested, and in 1819’s Adams-Onís Treaty, the U. S. backed off. • Texas is mostly populated w/ Natives & Tejanos, Mexicans who call Texas home.

Conflict Over Texas • Spain wants to promote growth in Texas. ▫ Spain recruits empresarios, Spanish citizens who agree to move to Texas and are given vast tracts of land. ▫ Moses Austin of Missouri receives first land grant. • 1821: Mexico declares independence from Spain. • By 1830 there are more white settlers in Texas than Mexicans, and Stephen F. Austin (Moses’s son) encourages American settlers and trade. ▫ American settlers refuse to adopt Mexican culture.

Conflict Over Texas • 1830: Mexico issues decree, official order, banning immigration from U. S. , and taxes goods coming into Texas from U. S. ▫ Decree angers Texans like Austin who depend on trade w/ U. S. and encourage immigration. ▫ Slave-owners in Texas also fear Mexico will end slavery there. • Many American settlers like Austin call for Texas to break from Mexico.

Conflict Over Texas • 1833: Mexican pres. General Antonio López y Santa Anna (San-tah-nah) agrees to remove immigration ban. ▫ However, he also overthrows Mexico’s constitution and becomes a dictator. ▫ He has Stephen F. Austin jailed for calling for independence. • 1835: war officially breaks out between Texas & Mexico when Texans defeat Mexican forces at Gonzales.

Davy! Davy Crockett! King of the Wild Frontier! • Texans offer free land to war volunteers. ▫ After losing his reelection to Congress in 1835, Davy Crockett answers the call, among others. ▫ Crockett is famous hunter & Tennessee congressman.

War Between Texas and Mexico • Dec. 1835: Texans take San Antonio from larger Mexican force. • Texans think war is won, so they make no plans. ▫ Feb. 1836: Santa Anna’s forces march north & attack 160 Texans barricaded in mission called the Alamo. Soldiers in the Alamo include Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, & 26 -year-old Commander William Barrett Travis sends messengers asking for help, but Texan forces are unorganized.

The Alamo • Texans hold Alamo for 13 days. ▫ March 6, 1836, Mexican troops use cannon to break open Alamo. ▫ Whole Texan force is killed or executed. • Though Texans lose Battle of the Alamo, it inspires Texans and buys them time. ▫ During the battle, Texan leaders meet w/ Mexican leaders at Washington-on-the-Brazos & declare independence & draw up new constitution. ▫ Republic of Texas (Lone Star Republic) is now its own country.

Texan Independence • War is not over, however. ▫ With Mexican troops in Texas, elections cannot be held, so temporary govt. is set up. David G. Burnet is chosen as president. Sam Houston, veteran of Andrew Jackson’s Creek Wars & Tenn. Congressman, is named commander-in -chief of armed forces. ▫ Houston wants to avoid Mexican forces overrunning Texas, so he orders Goliad abandoned, but they meet Mexican forces & surrender. ▫ General Santa Anna has 330 prisoners executed.

Texan Independence • 6 weeks later Houston sees chance to strike back & regroups w/ 900 troops. ▫ Houston surprise-attacks Gen. Santa Anna’s 1, 300 troops at San Jacinto. “Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!” ▫ 600+ Mexican soldiers killed, 700 captured, and Santa Anna is captured. • May 14, 1836: Santa Anna signs treaty recognizing Texas’ independence. • Sam Houston elected Texan president. ▫ (1861: Houston is deposed when he doesn’t want Texas to secede in the Civil War. )

To Annex or Not to Annex? • Houston sends delegation to Pres. Jackson asking U. S. to annex, take control of, Texas. ▫ Jackson refuses, worried about adding a slave state that would make Congress imbalanced. South is in favor, North opposed. ▫ Meanwhile, Texas has financial problems, & Mexican govt. refuses to honor treaty. Fighting continues for a time. ▫ President Van Buren also avoids annexing Texas. ▫ Once John Tyler becomes president, he gets a Texas treaty through sneaky misinformation. Senate finds out & votes not to ratify treaty.

Texas Becomes a State • Finally, during 1844 election, feeling of Manifest Destiny is growing stronger. • Democratic candidate James K. Polk supports Texas’s & Oregon’s annexation & wins presidency. ▫ Whig candidate, Henry Clay, initially opposes annexing Texas, but changes his mind, losing him Northern votes. • Dec. 29, 1845: Senate passes resolution to add Texas as 28 th state (a slave state).

The American Journey Chapter 11: Manifest Destiny Section 3: War with Mexico -ORThis Is Prime Real Estate! Maybe a Theme Park… With Huge Talking Mice…

New Mexico Territory • Early 1800’s: Nuevo México refers to large area containing all of present-day N. M. , Az. and Nv. , & parts of Co. and Ut. ▫ 1610: Spanish found settlement of Santa Fe. ▫ 1821: Mexico wins independence from Spain, inherits New Mexico. ▫ Spain had wanted Americans to stay out, fearing they’d take over. ▫ Mexico welcomes American settlers into New Mexico, hoping more trade will boost economy.

The Santa Fe Trail • 1821: William Becknell, first American trader, arrives in New Mexico from Missouri. ▫ His trail becomes known as Santa Fe Trail. ▫ Missouri River (near Independence, Missouri) across prairies Arkansas River Rocky Mtns. into New Mexico. ▫ Hundreds of Americans begin using trail for trade. ▫ Eventually spirit of Manifest Destiny encourages Americans to annex New Mexico. ▫ Americans also eye Mexican territory of California, which would provide access to the Pacific Ocean.

California’s Spanish Culture • Earliest Europeans to settle California are Spanish missionaries. ▫ 1776: Juan Bautista de Anza establishes first settlement at San Francisco. ▫ 1769: Gaspar de Portolá & Padre Junípero Serra establish string of missions from San Diego to Sonoma. “El Camino Real”—The King’s Highway ▫ Spanish use missions mainly to colonize California and Christianize (and essentially enslave) Native Americans in California. ▫ By 1820, Ca. has 21 missions w/ 20, 000 Natives.

California After 1821 • When Mexico wins independence from Spain in 1821, it also gains California. • 1833: Mexico abolishes Spanish mission system. ▫ They are supposed to give some lands to Natives. ▫ Mexican settlers called rancheros (ranch owners) buy most of the lands & build huge ranchos.

Manifest Destiny & California • As with N. M. , Mexican govt. initially welcomes American settlers to California. ▫ 1839: John Sutter is granted land in Sacramento area & sets up trading post. ▫ Many begin moving to California: Agents from American trading companies Fur traders from Oregon Merchants from New Mexico 1840’s: Many families begin moving to California from Missouri, taking Oregon Trail & turning south after Rocky Mtns.

Manifest Destiny and California • California population is only around 700 by 1845, most people living in Sacramento River Valley. • Americans like John C. Frémont write home about advantages of having California. ▫ ▫ ▫ Great climate Sea access (trading ports) No, not really, kid who always asks, “Really? !” Natural resources Transcontinental power Ports can be built for trade w/ China & Japan Two oceans would offer protection. • Plus…

War With Mexico • Pres. James K. Polk offers to buy N. M. & Ca. from Mexico, but they decline. ▫ He wants transcontinental power. ▫ Like many who believe in Manifest Destiny, Polk thinks California & New Mexico already belong to U. S. , because it is our destiny. • He plots to take them by force. ▫ However, he wants to ensure Mexico attacks first, giving him an excuse for war.

War With Mexico • Relations between U. S. & Mexico are becoming strained. ▫ Mexico claims annexation of Texas in 1845 was illegal. ▫ The two countries also disagree over the border between Mexico & Texas. U. S. says border is the Rio Grande. Mexico claims border is the Nueces River, 150 mi north of Rio Grande. ▫ Because of the dispute, Mexico stops paying American citizens for losses during Mexico’s war for independence from Spain.

War With Mexico • Pres. Polk sends agent John Slidell to offer Mexico $30 million for both territories. ▫ U. S. also agrees to take over Mexico’s war payments. ▫ But Mexico has to recognize Rio Grande as border between Mexico & Texas. ▫ Mexican government refuses to meet Slidell. • 1846: Polk sends Gen. Zachary Taylor across Nueces into disputed area. ▫ Taylor builds fort there, which Mexico attacks. ▫ Polk has his reason for war, and on May 9, Congress declares war on Mexico.

Quote from Lt. Col. Ethan Hitchcock’s journal, April 1846 • “We have not one particle of right to be here [in the disputed region between the Nueces and Rio Grande rivers]…. It looks as if the government sent a small force on purpose to bring on a war, so as to have a pretext for taking California and as much of this country as it pleases. ”

President Polk’s address to Congress, April 25 th, 1846 • “The cup of forbearance had been exhausted even before the recent information from the frontier of the [Rio Grande] Del Norte. But now, after reiterated menaces, Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon American soil…. War exists, and, notwithstanding all our efforts to avoid it, exists by the act of Mexico herself…I invoke the prompt action of Congress to recognize the existence of the war, and to place at the disposal of the Executive the means of prosecuting the war with vigor, and thus hastening the restoration of peace. ”

War Divides Americans • Southerners & Democrats, and most newspapers, support the actions. • Many are upset about “unjust war, ” however. ▫ Northerners & Whigs accuse Democrats of waging war to spread slavery into N. M. But they are hesitant to vote against it. Why? ▫ Whig Congressman Abraham Lincoln demands to know exact location of attack, then says territory was clearly in Mexico. ▫ Former slave Frederick Douglass says war is disgraceful and will result in spread of slavery.

Polk’s War Plan • Polk plan is to first drive Mexico out of disputed border region in Texas. ▫ Then, his forces will move into N. M. & Ca. ▫ Finally, he’ll take the capital, Mexico City. • Sept. 1846: Gen. Zachary Taylor’s forces cross Rio Grande & capture Mexican city of Monterrey. • Five months later, he wins again at Buena Vista. ▫ Texas border is securely American.

Polk’s War Plan • While Taylor is advancing in northern Mexico, Gen. Stephen Watts Kearney (“Karny”) leads 1, 500 troops along Santa Fe Trail & captures Santa Fe w/out firing a shot. ▫ He deliberately leaked the size of his army, thus scaring opponents. ▫ New Mexico is captured. • Kearney & his forces then move west toward Ca.

The Bear Flag Republic • Meanwhile, encouraged by Pres. Polk, John C. Frémont & Kit Carson declare they’ll seize Ca. ▫ June 14, 1846: Frémont & Carson, along w/ small band, capture Northern Ca. town of Sonoma. ▫ They proclaim Ca. independent republic, called The Bear Flag Republic. Their flag has bear & star on it, which California’s flag still has today. ▫ Frémont & Carson’s actions outrage local californios, Mexicans who live in California. They had supported independence, but opposed Americans seizing the land.

Annexation of California • July 7, 1846: U. S. naval forces under Commodore John Sloat capture Monterey & later San Francisco. ▫ Sloat declares California annexed to U. S. • Sloat’s forces, along w/ Frémont, Carson, & Robert Stockton, then capture San Diego and move north to Los Angeles. ▫ Kit Carson marches east to declare California’s capture, joining w/ Kearney (who’s marching west from Santa Fe) @ Los Angeles. ▫ By 1847, California is in American hands.

The Capture of Mexico City • 1847: American forces under Gen. Winfield Scott sail to Mexico, capture Vera Cruz, & march inland 300 mi. • By mid-September, Mexico City is captured, & Mexico surrenders Mexican-American War.

Mexican-American War Map

The Annexation of California • Jan. 1848: Mexico begins peace talks w/ America. • Feb. 1848: Mexico signs Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. ▫ Mexico gives up claims to Texas and recognizes Rio Grande as Texan border. ▫ Also, in the Mexican Cession, Mexico cedes, gives up, Ca. & N. M. to America. ▫ Mexico gets $15 million, half Pres. Polk’s 1846 offer. • 1853: U. S. gives Mexico another $10 million for Gadsden Purchase, small strip of southern Az. /N. M. ▫ Mainland U. S. is now its current size.

The American Journey Chapter 11: Manifest Destiny Section 4: New Settlers in California & Utah -OR$10 for a *@%#!! Pickaxe? !

Gold Rush! • January 24, 1848: James Marshall discovers gold in Ca. ’s American River. ▫ River runs through John Sutter’s mill. ▫ Sutter tries to keep discovery quiet, but 100, 000+ people flock to California from 1848 Not those 49 ers, silly. -1849 during Gold Rush. Called forty-niners. ▫ By end of 1848, $6 million ($100 m. modern equivalent) taken from river.

Immigration • Many come to California. ▫ Most come overland via Oregon & Santa Fe Trails, but many sail from East Coast. ▫ Many also come from China. America’s first Asian immigrants.

Land Issues • Under Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Californios were guaranteed citizenship & land. ▫ When forty-niners come to California, many claim land owned by Californios. ▫ Land Law of 1851 sets up land ownership reviews; many Californios lose their land.

California Life • Settlers move into California; boomtowns, goldmining communities, spring up. • Cities also grow. ▫ San Francisco becomes largest city west of Miss. River. • Most forty-niners have no clue how to mine. ▫ Most pick at hillsides or “pan” in rivers. ▫ Most devastating: water cannons strip away rock, causing silt to destroy farms & erode hillsides.

California Life • World’s supply of gold more than doubles, but most miners find little lasting wealth. ▫ Merchants do very well, charging whatever they like for food and goods. $$$!! • Very few women; most men are lonely, drunk, and involved in gambling. ▫ Robberies & murders daily occurrences; no real police force. ▫ Vigilantes (vigilance committees): ordinary citizens take law into their own hands as police, judge, jury, & executioner.

California Expands • Though Gold Rush ends, it permanently changes California. ▫ Most forty-niners stay. ▫ California’s population: 20, 000 220, 000 (1, 100%) in 4 years. • Due to rapid expansion, California applies for statehood in 1850. ▫ Applies as free state; Southern Congressmen reject idea. ▫ Congress eventually works out Compromise of 1850; California admitted as free state.

The Mormons Are Coming! • 1830: Joseph Smith of N. Y. claims he’s had visions that lead him to found Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints(AKA: Mormon church). ▫ Believes all property should be communal & men should have many wives (polygamy). ▫ Mormon beliefs are disliked across U. S. ; Smith is arrested many times. ▫ Smith killed by a mob in Illinois in 1844.

The Mormons Are Coming! • Brigham Young takes over, moves Mormons to Deseret, near Great Salt Lake in present-day Utah. ▫ Young becomes Utah Territory’s governor when U. S. acquires Utah from Mexico in 1850. ▫ Because they resist federal laws, Utah does not become state until 1896.

FIN