5.2 Reading Guide / Notes
Manifest Destiny: Expanding the Nation (Starting on Page 321)

What is Manifest Destiny?

Why did many people support the idea of Manifest Destiny (particularly farmers and land speculators)?
The Birth of the Texas Republic (Starting on Page 323)

An American named Stephen Austin was granted a huge track of land in Northern Mexico, by the Mexican
government, in order to start a colony.
o Within just a few years, Americans flooded into the new colony, bringing over 2,000 slaves with
them.
o Not only was the Mexican government against slavery, but they began to become nervous
because of how quickly the new colony was growing.
 The Mexican government began to exert more control over the Texas colony which led
to increased tensions between their government and the settlers in Texas.

What happed at the Alamo?

Why was the Battle of San Jacinto so important for the future of Texas, and who led the Texans in this
battle?
Distant California (Starting on Page 326)

California, the northwestern province of Mexico, also became attractive to American expansionists.
o It was right beneath the Oregon territory, which the United States shared with Britain, and there
were relatively few inhabitants in California.
Manifest Destiny and American Presidential Politics (Starting on Page 331)

___________________, also known as “Young Hickory” was a dark horse candidate in the 1844
presidential election, and won because of his support of Manifest Destiny and American expansionism.
o Polk’s Presidential Agenda
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54-40 or Fight (Starting on Page 332)

Many proponents of Manifest Destiny wanted to take the Oregon Territory all the way up to the 54-40
parallel line.
o The chant “54-40 or Fight” became popular amongst American expansionists.
 Meaning if Britain didn’t relinquish their claims to Oregon all the way up to the 54-40
line, they want another war with Britain (bad idea).
o
After Webster-Ashburton Treaty, where did the United States and Britain agree would be the
boundary between the U.S. and Canada?
Fighting the War in Texas and Mexico, Responding to Resistance (Starting on Page 335)

Texas joined the United States in 1844
o After Texas had won it independence from Mexico at the Battle of San Jacinto, territorial
disputes between Texas and Mexico continued.
 The Texans claimed the border between Texas and Mexico was the
_______________________, whereas Mexico claimed it was the
______________________ (a couple hundred miles north of the Rio Grande).

President Polk ordered the American military, under the leadership of
_____________________________, to set up camp in the disputed territory, hoping the move would
spark an attack from Mexico.
o It did spark an attack from Mexico, and now the United States had justification for war with
Mexico.

Why did President Polk want war with Mexico?

Why was the Mexican-American War so controversial in Congress?
Negotiating Peace, Defining the Borders (Starting on Page 341)

After a couple major U.S. victories in Monterey and Buena Vista, American troops invaded Mexico City
(the capitol), and forced the surrender of the Mexican government.
o The Treaty of ______________________________ officially ended the war between the U.S. and
Mexico.
o
What were the terms of the peace treaty?