MANIFEST DESTINY AND
THE WAR WITH MEXICO
If the nation expands, so will slavery - ?
Migration out West
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By 1860, more than
250,000 Americans had
moved west along
overland trails.
By 1850, more than 4
million people had moved
past the Appalachian
Mountains.
Squatter – a person who
settles on land that they do
not own.
Adding New Territory
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Americans were also settling in Oregon Territory,
California and Texas. These lands were partly
owned or controlled by other nations (Britain and
Mexico).
The Trip out West
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A typical trip west took
about six months, with
people being able to travel
about 15 miles/day.
Early pioneers called the
Great Plains the “Great
American Desert” because
it was treeless.
In spite of stories about
Indian attacks, many natives
were helpful to the early
settlers.
Trying to make Peace
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Treaty of Fort Laramie (1851) – an attempt to
make peace with the Plains Indians. The U.S.
promised territory to the natives, but new settlers
kept moving through.
TEXAS Fight for Independence
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Mexico owned Texas and
wanted more settlers to
move there. They offered
cheap land to new settlers,
convincing many Americans
to move.
Stephen Austin became
one of the first
empresarios to convince
many Americans to settle in
Texas.
Continuing the Fight
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The Mexican government
wanted the new settlers to
adopt Mexican customs,
learn Spanish and convert
to Catholicism. Most did
not and also did not
associate with native
Mexicans.
Mexico closed its borders
in 1830.
The rise of Santa Anna
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1833, Stephen Austin started
pushing for Texas’
independence. He tried to
work out agreements with
Mexican President Santa
Anna.
In April, 1834, Santa Anna
made himself dictator of
Mexico. The next year,
Austin urged Texans to
organize an army and move
toward independence.
THE ALAMO
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The most famous battle between
the Texans and Mexicans occurred
at the Alamo. This was an old
Spanish mission, where about 150
Texans held out to fight Santa
Anna’s men.
The small band of Texans held out
for 13 days. When Santa Anna’s
forces attacked, the only survivors
were women, children and a few
servants.
Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie were
among the dead.
“Remember the Alamo” became the
new battle cry.
Battle of SAN JACINTO
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Sam Houston, chief of
the Texas forces, was
waiting for a chance
to fight Santa Anna.
On April 21, 1836,
while Santa Anna’s
soldiers were napping
in their camp, the
Texans attacked.
The Clash between Texas and
Mexico
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The Mexican troops were so startled that Houston’s men
were able to kill hundreds and take 700 prisoners,
including Santa Anna.
Houston convinced Santa Anna to withdraw from Texas,
and sign a treaty recognizing their independence. The
Mexican government did not accept the treaty, but
ended the military campaign. Texas became a nation.
Texas asked for annexation as a slave state. Mexico still
claimed ownership of the territory. These reasons made
statehood more difficult and Texas remained a separate
nation for ten years.
Battle of San Jacinto
Sam Houston was elected President of
Texas in September of 1836
Electing a New President
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In 1844, James K. Polk became President.
His goal was to annex Texas and the
Oregon Territory and to purchase
California from Mexico.
Polk insisted that the US had rights to the
entire Oregon Territory even though
Britain had claimed the land for years.
Polk had campaigned with the slogan,
“Fifty-four Forty or Fight” – meaning that
the boundary should be drawn at the 54
40’ latitude line.
Britain and the US agreed to divide the
territory along the 49th parallel. This
later became the states of Washington,
Oregon and Idaho.
The Annexation of Texas
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In 1845, Congress passed a resolution
to annex Texas and became a state
This outraged the Mexican
government. To make matters worse,
the two countries had disagreed over
the border between Texas and
Mexico.
Mexico set the border at the Nueces
River, the US set it at the Rio Grande.
In 1845, President Polk sent John
Slidell to Mexico City to try to resolve
the issue. The Mexican president
wouldn’t even meet with him.
This ruined any real chances of settling
the dispute
Continuing the Invasion
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In January, 1846, General Zachary
Taylor led American troops into the
disputed territory.
On May 9, Mexicans attacked the
Americans, starting a war with
Mexico.
The strategy involved crossing the
Rio Grande, sending a force to
capture Santa Fe, and then moving
west to take California.
Before the war actually started,
settlers in California led an uprising
which resulted in California
declaring independence.
The War with Mexico Begins (1846-1848)
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After the meeting with Slidell
and Taylor did not work, Polk
asked Congress for a
declaration of war, which
came on May 13, 1846
Congress believed that this
was just another part of
America’s Manifest Destiny.
Critics believed that this
altercation was Polk’s
expansionist policies and
calculated idea of getting
Mexico
Invading Mexico
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General
Winfield Scott
captured
Mexico City in
September of
1847.
The Mexican War Ends
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The Treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo was signed in 1848.
Mexico gave the US over
500,000 square miles
(including California, Nevada,
Utah, Arizona, New Mexico,
Colorado, and Wyoming) and
set the border with Texas at
the Rio Grande River.
The US paid Mexico $15
million and cancelled $3.25
million in debts owed by the
Mexican government.
IF THE NATION EXPANDS, WILL
SLAVERY?
Slavery in America Motion
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