The American Journey
Chapter 11: Manifest Destiny
Section 1: Westward to the Pacific
Oregon Country
• From the 1840’s to the 1850’s,
thousands of families set out
for Oregon Country.
▫ It was the huge area between
the Rockies and the Pacific
Ocean.
• Four nations claimed it: The
U.S., Britain, Spain, and
Russia.
▫ The U.S. based its claim
partially on Lewis & Clark’s
explorations.
Gaining Oregon
• In 1818, Secretary of State John Quincy Adams
worked out a deal with Britain for joint
occupation of Oregon.
▫ This meant either country’s settlers could move in.
• In 1819, Secretary of State Adams had negotiated
with Spain, who gave up their claim to Oregon.
▫ The Adams-Onís Treaty
• In 1824, Russia also ceded its claim.
The Fur Trade & Mountain Men
• The first Americans to settle Oregon were fur
traders out to trap beavers.
▫ In 1808 John Jacob Astor set up the American Fur
Company.
• Fur companies hired mountain men, fur
trappers who often took on Native American
wives and lifestyles and lived in the mountains.
Carving Out a Life in the Wilderness
• Mountain men explored the mountains as they
hunted beaver.
▫ Robert Stuart and Jedediah Smith discovered
South Pass through the Rockies, later the main
route to Oregon.
• Eventually beavers were scarce, and mountain
men had to live in the 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 and economic troubles in the
East made Oregon look really good.
▫ Many of the first settlers were Christian missionaries.
• In the early 1840’s, “Oregon fever” struck, and
thousands of families in the Mississippi Valley set
out on “the great migration.”
▫ Emigrants are people who leave their home.
• Most emigrants left from Independence, Missouri
and followed the Oregon Trail.
The Oregon Trail
• The Oregon Trail took settlers across the Great
Plains, along the Platte River, through the South
Pass of the Rockies, along the Snake and Columbia
Rivers, and into the Willamette Valley of Oregon.
• As the American population of Oregon increased
from 500 to 5,000, the question of ownership again
came up.
▫ Britain’s population in Oregon remained at 700.
The Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail wasn’t easy. 
Manifest Destiny
• Many began to feel that the United States was
destined to occupy all of the continent.
• Newspaper editor John O’Sullivan said in 1819 that
it was America’s Manifest Destiny.
▫ Manifest Destiny was the belief that God provided
the continent for Americans to possess, from the
Atlantic to the Pacific.
“Fifty-Four Forty or Fight”
• In 1844, Democrats nominated James K. Polk for
president.
▫ Whigs nominated Henry Clay.
• Polk won the election when he and Democrats
strongly called for sole American possession of
Oregon.
▫ The rallying cry “Fifty-four Forty or Fight” referred to
the line of latitude they felt should be the Northern
boundary of American Oregon.
 In 1846 the line was set at the compromise of 49ºN.
The American Journey
Chapter 11: Manifest Destiny
Section 2: Independence for Texas
Conflict Over Texas
• In 1803 Jefferson had bought the Louisiana
Purchase from France, formerly Spain’s.
▫ The U.S. claimed Texas as part of it.
▫ Spain protested, and in 1819 the U.S. backed off.
• Texas was mostly populated with Natives and
Tejanos, Mexicans who called Texas home.
Conflict Over Texas
• Spain wanted to promote growth in Texas.
▫ Spain recruited empresarios, Spanish citizens
who agreed to move to Texas and were given vast
tracts of land.
• In 1821 Mexico declared independence from
Spain.
• By 1830 there were more white settlers in Texas
than Mexicans, and Stephen F. Austin
encouraged American settlers and trade.
▫ American settlers refused to adopt Mexican culture.
Conflict Over Texas
• In 1830, Mexico issued a decree, an official
order, banning immigration from the U.S. and
taxed goods coming into Texas from the U.S.
▫ This decree angered Texans like Austin who
depended on trade with the U.S. and encouraged
immigration.
▫ Slave-owners in Texas also feared Mexico would
end slavery there.
• Many American settlers like Austin called for
Texas to break from Mexico.
Conflict Over Texas
• In 1833, Mexican president General Antonio
López de Santa Anna removed the
immigration ban.
▫ However, he also became a dictator and overthrew
the Mexican constitution.
▫ He also had Stephen F. Austin jailed for calling for
independence.
• In 1835 war officially broke out between Texas
and Mexico.
War Between Texas and Mexico
• Texas offered free land to war volunteers.
▫ Davy Crockett answered the call, among others.
▫ Crockett was a famous hunter and Congressman.
• In 1835, Texans took San Antonio from a larger
Mexican force.
▫ But General Santa Anna struck back.
▫ In 1835, Santa Anna’s forces marched north and
attacked a Texan army barricaded in a mission
called the Alamo.
 Soldiers in the Alamo included Davy Crockett, Jim
Bowie, and American commander William B. Travis.
The Alamo
• Texans held the Alamo for 13 days.
▫ But on March 6, 1836, Mexican troops used
cannons to break open the Alamo and kill the
whole Texan force.
• Though Texans lost the Battle of the Alamo, it
inspired Texans and bought them time.
▫ During the battle, Texan leaders met with Mexican
leaders and declared independence.
▫ The Republic of Texas was now its own country.
Texan Independence
• The war was not over, however.
▫ Texas’ temporary government named Sam Houston
as commander in chief of the armed forces.
▫ Texas was still full of Mexican soldiers.
▫ Houston ordered the city of Goliad abandoned, but
they met Mexican forces.
▫ General Santa Anna had the prisoners executed.
Texan Independence
• Houston regrouped with 900 troops.
▫ Houston attacked General Santa Anna’s troops at
San Jacinto.
 “Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!”
▫ General Santa Anna’s troops were defeated, and
Santa Anna was captured.
• On May 14, 1836, Santa Anna signed a treaty
recognizing Texas’ independence.
• Sam Houston was elected Texas’ president.
To Annex or Not to Annex?
• Houston sent a delegation to President Jackson
asking the U.S. to annex, take control of, Texas.
▫ Jackson refused to add another slave state.
▫ President Van Buren also avoided annexing Texas.
▫ Once John Tyler became president (after Harrison
died—cough, cough), he supported Texas’
annexation.
 But Senate still refused to ratify the treaty.
Texas Becomes a State
• Finally, during the 1844 election, Democratic
candidate James K. Polk supported annexation
and won the presidency.
▫ Henry Clay initially opposed annexing Texas,
meaning he lost yet another election.
▫ The feeling of Manifest Destiny was growing strong.
• On Dec. 29, 1845, Senate passed a resolution to add
Texas as a state.
The American Journey
Chapter 11: Manifest Destiny
Section 3: War With Mexico
New Mexico Territory
• In the early 1800’s New Mexico referred to a
large area containing all of present-day N.M., Az.
and Nv., and parts of Co. and Ut.
▫ In 1610 the Spanish founded Santa Fe.
▫ When Mexico won independence from Spain in
1821, it inherited New Mexico.
▫ Spain wanted Americans to stay out, fearing they’d
take over; but Mexico welcomed American settlers
into New Mexico, hoping more trade would boost
the economy.
The Santa Fe Trail
• In 1821, William Becknell, the first American
trader, arrived in New Mexico from Missouri.
▫ His trail became known as the Santa Fe Trail.
▫ Missouri River (near Independence, Missouri) 
across prairies  Arkansas River  Rocky Mtns.
 into New Mexico.
▫ Hundreds of Americans began using the trail for
trade.
▫ Eventually the spirit of Manifest Destiny
encouraged Americans to annex New Mexico.
▫ They also eyed the Mexican territory of California.
California’s Spanish Culture
• The earliest Europeans to settle California were
Spanish missionaries.
▫ Juan Bautista de Anza established the first settlement
at San Francisco in 1776.
▫ Seven years before, Gaspar de Portolá and Padre
Junípero Serra established a string of missions from
San Diego to Sonoma
 “El Camino Real”—The King’s Highway
▫ The Spanish used the missions mainly to colonize
California and Christianize (and essentially enslave)
the Native Americans in California.
▫ By 1820, Ca. had 21 missions with 20,000 Natives.
California After 1821
• When Mexico won independence from Spain in
1821, it also gained California as one of its states.
• In 1833, Mexico abolished the Spanish mission
system.
▫ Instead, they gave some of the lands to Natives
and sold the rest.
▫ Mexican settlers called rancheros (ranch
owners) bought the lands and built huge
ranchos.
Manifest Destiny and California
• Much like in New Mexico, the Mexican government at
first welcomed American settlers to California.
▫ In 1839, John Sutter was granted land in the Sacramento
area, and he set up a trading post.
▫ Many people began moving into California:
 Agents from American trading companies
 Fur traders from Oregon
 Merchants from New Mexico
▫ In the 1840’s many families began moving to California
from Missouri, taking the Oregon Trail and turning
south after the Rocky Mountains.
Manifest Destiny and California
• Still, the American population was only around 700 by
1845, most of the people living in the Sacramento
River Valley.
• Americans, like John C. Frémont, began to see
advantages to having California.
▫
▫
▫
▫
Great climate
Sea access (trading ports)
Natural resources
Transcontinental power
• Plus, ports could be built for trade with China and
Japan, and two oceans would offer protection.
War With Mexico
• President James K. Polk offered twice to buy New
Mexico and California from Mexico, but they
declined.
▫ He wanted transcontinental power, but…
• …like many who believed in Manifest Destiny,
Polk thought that California and New Mexico
belonged to the U.S. because it was our destiny.
▫ He plotted to take them by force.
▫ However, he wanted to ensure that Mexico attacked
first, thereby giving him an excuse for war.
War With Mexico
• Relations between the U.S. and Mexico were
becoming strained.
▫ Mexico claimed that the annexation of Texas in 1845
had been illegal.
▫ The two countries also disagreed over the border
between Mexico and Texas.
 The U.S. said the border was the Rio Grande.
 Mexico claimed the border was the Nueces River, 150
miles north of the Rio Grande.
▫ Because of the dispute, Mexico stopped paying
American citizens for losses during Mexico’s war for
independence.
War With Mexico
• President Polk sent an agent, John Slidell, to offer
Mexico $30 million for both territories.
▫ Mexico had to recognize the Rio Grande as the
border between Mexico and Texas.
▫ The U.S. agreed to take over Mexico’s war payments.
▫ The Mexican government refused to meet.
• In 1846 Polk sent General Zachary Taylor across
the Nueces into the disputed area.
▫ Taylor built a fort there, which Mexico attacked.
▫ Polk had his reason for war, and on May 9, Congress
declared war on Mexico.
Divisions Over War
• The war divided Americans.
• Southerners and Democrats, and most
newspapers, supported the actions.
• Many were upset about the “unjust war,” however.
▫ Northerners and Whigs accused Democrats of
waging war to spread slavery into N.M.
▫ Congressman Abraham Lincoln demanded to know
the exact location of the attack, saying the territory
was clearly in Mexico.
▫ Former slave Frederick Douglass said the war was
disgraceful and would result in the spread of slavery.
Polk’s War Plan
• Polk planned to drive Mexico out of the disputed
border region in Texas.
▫ Then, his forces would move into N.M. & Ca.
▫ Finally, he’d take Mexico’s capital, Mexico City.
• In Sept. 1846, General Zachary Taylor’s forces
crossed the Rio Grande and captured the Mexican
city of Monterrey.
• Five months later, he won again at Buena Vista.
▫ The Texas border was securely American.
Polk’s War Plan
• While Taylor was advancing in northern Mexico,
General Stephen Watts Kearney and 1,500 troops
along the Santa Fe Trail and captured Santa Fe
without firing a shot.
▫ New Mexico was captured.
• Kearney and his forces then moved west toward
California.
The Bear Flag Republic
• Meanwhile, unaware of the war in Mexico, John
C. Frémont and Kit Carson declared that they
would seize California.
▫ Frémont and Carson, along with a small band,
captured the Northern California town of Sonoma.
▫ They proclaimed California an independent
republic, called The Bear Flag Republic.
 Their flag had a bear and a star on it, which
California’s flag still has today.
▫ Frémont and Carson’s actions outraged the local
Californios, Mexicans who lived in California.
 They supported local control of the government, but
opposed Americans seizing the land.
The Annexation of California
• In 1846, U.S. naval forces under Commodore John
Sloat captured Monterey and San Francisco.
▫ Sloat declared California annexed to the U.S.
• Sloat’s forces, along with Frémont and Carson,
then captured San Diego and moved north to Los
Angeles.
▫ Kit Carson marched east to declare California’s
capture, joining up with Kearney, who was marching
west from Santa Fe.
▫ By 1847, California was in American hands.
The Capture of Mexico City
• Also in 1847, American forces under General
Winfield Scott sailed to Mexico and marched
inland 300 miles.
• By Mid-September, the city had been captured,
and Mexico surrendered the Mexican-American
War.
The Annexation of California
• Finally in 1848, Mexico signed the Treaty of
Guadalupe Hidalgo.
▫ Mexico gave up all claims to Texas and recognized the
Rio Grande as the Texan border.
▫ Also, in the Mexican Cession, Mexico ceded, gave up,
California and New Mexico to America.
▫ In return, Mexico got $15 million, half President Polk’s
1846 offer.
• In 1853, the U.S. gave Mexico another $10 million for
the Gadsden Purchase, a small strip of southern
Arizona and New Mexico.
▫ The mainland U.S. was now its current size.
The American Journey
Chapter 11: Manifest Destiny
Section 4: New Settlers in
California and Utah
Gold Rush!
• On January 24, 1848, James Marshall
discovered gold in California’s American
River.
▫ The river ran through John Sutter’s mill.
▫ Sutter tried to keep the discovery quiet, but
over 100,000 people flocked to California
between 1848 and 1849 in the Gold Rush.
▫ These people are called forty-niners.
▫ By the end of 1848, $6 million ($100 m. in
today’s dollars) had been taken from the river.
Not those
49ers.
Immigration and Land Problems
• Many people came to California.
▫ Most came overland using the Oregon and Santa Fe
Trails, but many sailed in from the East Coast.
▫ Many also came from China, America’s first Asian
immigrants.
• Under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo,
Californios were guaranteed citizenship and land.
▫ When forty-niners came to California, many claimed
land already owned by Californios.
▫ The Land Law of 1851 set up land ownership
reviews, and many Californios lost their land.
California Life
• As settlers moved into California, boomtowns,
gold-mining communities sprang up.
• Cities also grew.
▫ San Francisco became the largest city west of the
Mississippi River.
• Most forty-niners had no clue how to mine.
▫ Most picked at hillsides or “panned” in the river.
▫ Most devastating were powerful water cannons,
which stripped away rock and caused silt to destroy
farms and erode hillsides.
California Life
• Although the world’s supply of gold more than
doubled, most miners found little lasting wealth.
▫ Merchants did very well, however, charging
whatever they liked for food and goods. $$$
• There were very few women, and most men fell
into loneliness, drunkenness, and gambling.
▫ Robberies and murders were daily occurrences, and
there was no real police force.
▫ Vigilantes (or vigilance committees) were
ordinary citizens who took the law into their own
hands as police, judge, jury, and executioner.
California Expands
• Although the Gold Rush had ended, it
permanently changed California.
▫ Most forty-niners stayed.
▫ California’s population grew from 20,000 to
220,000 (1,100%) in four years.
• Because of the rapid expanse, California applied
for statehood in 1850.
▫ But because it applied as a non-slave state,
Southerners in Congress rejected the idea.
▫ Congress eventually worked out the Compromise of
1850, and California was admitted as a free state.
The Mormons Are Coming!
• In 1830, Joseph Smith of N.Y. claimed to have
visions that led him to found the Mormon church
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).
▫ He believed all property should be communal, and
that a man should have many wives (polygamy).
▫ Mormon beliefs were disliked across the U.S., and
Smith was killed by a mob in 1844.
The Mormons Are Coming!
• Brigham Young took over and moved the
Mormons near Great Salt Lake in present-day
Utah.
▫ Young eventually became the Utah Territory’s
governor when the U.S. acquired the area from
Mexico.
▫ Because they resisted federal laws, Utah did not
become a state until 1896.