The Allure of the West
What made the American West so attractive to people, and the U.S
government.
Social – Why did the West attracted so many
people?
The population was rapidly growing
in the East, Americans were running
out of room, they had to move West.
Economic hardships (panics and
depressions) in the East pushed
Americans to the West.
The West had and abundant,
inexpensive, and often free, land.
This not only attracted eastern
Americans, but poor, landless
Europeans as well.
Economic – What made the West attractive
economically?
The United States desired the West because the West coast would open up the United
States to Asian markets. Eastern ports connected the U.S with Europe. The West meant
we could expand our trading power globally.
Political - Why did the U.S government want
to seize the West?
The British had their eyes on the West as well. Prior to the Annexation of Texas,
Britain had established a friendly relationship with the Republic of Texas. They
were interested in trading with Texas and keeping the U.S from expanding West.
In order to limit British influence in America, the United States decided to
Annex Texas in 1845.
,
Before Oregon was added to the United States, it was claimed by
both the U.S and Great Britain. When James K. Polk ran for
president, he claimed he wanted all of Oregon, his slogan was
“Fifty four or fight!” This reference was to the 54th parallel that
was the northern border of the Territory. Once elected he
negotiated with Britain and the territory was cut in half. The
Southern part became Oregon.
&
“... our claim to Oregon would still be best and
strongest. And that claim is by the right of our manifest
destiny to overspread and possess the whole of the
continent which Providence has given us for the
development of the great experiment of liberty and
federated self-government entrusted to us.”
John O’Sullivan New York Morning
News, December 1845
The above excerpt reveals that Manifest Destiny became the
official policy of the United States government.
Rapid population growth
Economic Depressions
MANIFEST
DESTINY
Inexpensive land
Foreign Trade opportunities
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
• Named after the Northwest Territory.
• Established procedures for orderly
western expansion.
• Banned slavery in the territory, and
protected people’s basic rights of religion
and trails by juries.
• Granted rights to territories when they
reach certain population benchmarks
• 5,000 free males = local government
• 60,000 free males = statehood
The Gadsden Purchase was made to build the southern
portion of the Transcontinental Railroad.
It was built to help people settle the lands acquired by
the Mexican War.
A. Original United States, by Treaty of Paris
1783
B. Louisiana Purchase, 1803, from France.
C. The Annexation of Texas, 1845
D. Mexican Cession, by Treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo, 1848
E. Oregon Territory, 1846 by negotiations
with Britain
F. Florida Purchase, from Spain, 1819
G. Maine’s Boundaries established 1842
H. Red River Cession, negotiations with
Great Britain, 1818
J. Gadsden Purchase, from Mexico, 1853
1. Texas is officially
recognized as apart of the
United States.
1. Annexation of Texas
created tensions between
the U.S and Mexico.
2. Border Dispute – The U.S
said the border was the Rio
Grande, Mexico said it was
the Nueces river.
3. Polk places U.S troops
along the Rio Grande. This
led to a skirmish between U.S
and Mexican soldiers. The
U.S declared War on Mexico
Mexican War
1846 - 48
2. The Rio Grande was
established as the border
between the two
Countries.
3. Mexico cedes land to the
United States. (Mexican
Cession)
More Effects of the U.S - Mexican War
• Once the United States had control of the
Mexican Cession, it was opened up for
settlement.
• This led to debates in Congress about the
western spread of slavery.
• A compromised was reached in 1850 to
settle the issue.
•
•
•
•
•
Compromise of 1850
California would join the Union as free
State.
The Fugitive Slave law is passed.
Texas is reduced in size.
The remaining territory would be divided
into the Utah, and New Mexico Territories.
Popular sovereignty would determine the
spread of slaver in these two territories.