Trails to the West Trails to the West

Trails to the West

Trails to the West The Oregon Trail

The Santa Fe Trail

Overland Immigration West Between 1840 and 1860 more than 250, 000 people made the trek westward

Trails Westward

The Mexican-American War (18461848) • 1846: Polk orders troops to march from the Nueces to the Rio Grande. • Provoked Mexican Army into firing first • Congress declares war.

The Bear Flag Revolt Only about 500 Americans were in California in 1846, in contrast to about 12, 000 Californios. Americans seized Sonoma and declared California to be an independent nation on June 14, 1846. This started the Bear Flag Revolt. John C. Fremont was the leader of a U. S. Army mapping expedition and he entered California to support its independence. U. S. naval and military forces invaded California in June 1846 and claimed California for the U. S.

The Bear Flag Republic The Revolt June 14, 1845 John C. Frémont

Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 1848 The Treaty was basically forced on Mexico! • The Mexican Cession • Mexico gave up claims to Texas above the Rio Grande River. • Mexico gave the U. S. California, Nevada, Utah and parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming. • U. S. gave Mexico $15, 000 and agreed to pay the claims of American citizens against Mexico (over $3, 000). MEXICO LOST HALF OF ITS TERRITORY IN ALL!

The Gadsden Purchase An agreement negotiated with Mexico in 1853 The U. S. government paid Mexico $10 million. The U. S. received the southern parts of what are now Arizona and New Mexico. Finalized the current boundary with Mexico. 33 cents an acre. Now that's a good deal!

California Gold Rush 1849 The original 49 ers

Life of the Miners Mining camps sprang up wherever enough people gathered to look for gold. Miners came from many cultures and backgrounds. Most were young, unmarried men in search of adventure. 80% were Americans; the rest came from around the world. Only 5 percent of gold-rush immigrants were women or children. Women generally made good money by cooking meals, washing clothes, and operating boardinghouses. Miners paid high prices for basic necessities because the huge amount of gold in circulation caused severe inflation in California.

Effects of the Gold Rush Population Boom • Population explosion quickly made California eligible for statehood • Became 31 st state in 1850 • Growth had negative effect on Californios and Native Americans in California Economic Boom • New businesses and industries transformed California. • Completion of transcontinental railroad in 1869 ended isolation from rest of country and aided economy

Cause and Effects of Westward Movement Causes Effects • Americans believe in idea of manifest destiny • Native Americans are forced off lands • United States acquires vast new lands in West • Americans travel west to settle new areas • Pathfinders open trails to new territories • United States stretches to Pacific • Gold is discovered in California • California experiences population boom