The Lone Star of Texas Shines Alone
Since 1836 the Texas territory led an uncertain existence. Mexico refused to regard the Lone Star Republic as a province in revolt.
Texans were forced to maintain a costly military establishment because of numerous raids on American posts – vastly outnumbered by their Mexican foe
Texans were securing protective treaties with France, Holland and Belgium.
Britain was intensely interested in an independent Texas to curb the southern expansion of USA and established a free trade area to offset protective tariffs. Any clash in the area would challenge the effect of the Monroe Doctrine.

For all these reasons Texas became a leading issue in the presidential campaign of 1844
The Democrats under James K. Polk
(expansionists) triumphed over the
Whigs under Henry Clay
Lame Duck President Tyler interpreted the narrow Democratic victory as a mandate to acquire Texas
Instead of securing the needed 2/3 vote for a treaty in the Senate because of the opposition problem of slavery—Tyler arranged for annexation by a joint resolution which required only a simply majority in both houses of Congress

After some debate in 1845 Texas was formally invited to become the 28 TH star on the American flag
Mexico refused to accept this American decision and Texas in 1845 became a danger spot
OREGON FEVER
Oregon was one of the areas in the west that attracted Americans. Its lands included what is today Oregon,
Washington, Idaho, and parts of
Wyoming and Montana
It stretched from a latitude of 54’40’ in the north to 42’ in the south—from the southern tip of Alaska to northern
California—in the east from the Rocky

Mountains and in the west to the Pacific
Ocean
MANIFEST DESTINY-
EXPANSIONISTS
In the early 1800s Great Britain, Russia,
Spain, and USA all had claims to this area
Spain gave up its claim by the Adams-
Onis Treaty of 1819 which set the boundary of Spanish lands and the
Louisiana Purchase
Russia gave up its claim after the
Monroe Doctrine was issued in 1823
In 1820s Great Britain and USA agreed to joint occupation of the area –until later boundary agreements could be made.

Both country’s had explored the area and set up trade
Lewis & Clark expedition had traveled there
John Jacob Astor’s Pacific Fur Co. had founded Fort Astoria on the Columbia
River 1811 marking the 1 ST permanent
American settlement in the Oregon country
British explorer James Cook visited the
Oregon coast 1788
Until 1840s trappers working for the
British-owned Hudson Bay Co. controlled the Oregon fur trade
In 1830s USA missionaries led by
Reverend Jason Lee began to arrive in

Oregon by 1840s “Oregon Fever” had gripped many Americans
THE OREGON TRAIL
A 2000 mile covered wagon journey from Missouri to Oregon across the
Great Plains following the Platte River to
Fort Laramie across the Rocky
Mountains at South Pass and on the Fort
Hall, following the Snake River on the
Columbia River making its way to
Willamette Valley
The average rate of progress in covered wagon was 1-2 miles a hour or about 100 miles a week for about 5 months
Thousands of humans , horses and oxen died in route or about 17 deaths per mile due to Indian attacks, lack of food and

water, snow in the Rocky Mountains, wheels falling off wagons etc….
In 1846 Francis Parkman documented his travels when he wrote “The Oregon
Trail”