MANIFEST DESTINY AND
THE WAR WITH MEXICO
If the nation expands, so will slavery - ?
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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.
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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).
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A typical trip west took about six months, with
people being able to travel about 15 miles/day.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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Sam Houston was elected president of Texas in
September of 1836.
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.
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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.
Fifty-four Forty or Fight
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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.
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Britain and the US agreed to divide the territory
along the 49th parallel. This later became the
states of Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
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In 1845, Congress passed a resolution to annex
Texas.
This outraged the Mexican government. To make
matters worse, the two countries had disagreed
over the border between Texas and Mexico.
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Mexico set the border at the Nueces River, the US
set it at the Rio Grande.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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General Winfield Scott captured Mexico City in
September of 1847.
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The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed in
1848. Mexico gave the US over 500,000 square
miles 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?