“Manifest Destiny”
 First coined by newspaper editor, John
O’Sullivan in 1845.
 ".... the right of our manifest destiny to over spread
and to possess the whole of the continent which
Providence has given us for the development of the
great experiment of liberty and federative
development of self-government entrusted to us. It
is right such as that of the tree to the space of air
and the earth suitable for the full expansion of
its principle and destiny of growth."
 A myth of the West as a land of romance and
adventure emerged.
“American Progress” by John Gast, 1872
Missouri Comp
Key Figures in Texas Independence, 1836
Sam Houston
(1793-1863)
Steven Austin
(1793-1836)
Rules for Texans
 Pay Taxes
 Covert to Catholicism
 Obey Mexican Laws
Abolish Slavery
Americans began
moving into Texas in
the 1820’s and
brought their slaves
with them.
War fought by Texans
against Mexico
because they believed
their rights had been
violated.
Texas-Declaration of Independence
The Republic of Texas
Remember the Alamo!
Davey Crockett’s Last Stand
The Battle of the Alamo
General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna Recaptures the Alamo
Texas- The Lone Star State
 Sam Houston’s victory at the Battle of San Jacinto
 Santa Anna recognizes Texan independence
 Houston President of Republic of Texas 1836
 Still boarder dispute between Nueces and Rio
Grande River
Wagons Hooooooooo!
Wagons head west!!!!!!
Overland Immigration to the West
 Between 1840 and
1860, more than
250,000 people
made the trek
westward.
The Mormons Come West
Why did they go west?
Where did they go?
They followed what is
today known as the
Mormon Trail
 The trail passes through
Iowa, Nebraska,
Wyoming and Utah
 The trail later extended
to California

Where did they come from?
Many Mormons
actually started in
New York
 They moved to Ohio
and Missouri
 Because of
persecution, they
went to Illinois and
built the city of
Nauvoo on the
Mississippi River

Why leave Nauvoo then?

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Nauvoo was a great city
The Mormons worked
together to build
homes,businesses, and a
temple
Many people didn’t like the
Mormons’ success and were
afraid
They persecuted the
Mormons
They killed the Mormon
leader, Joseph Smith and his
brother Hyrum Smith in June
of 1844
The Mormons were forced to
leave their homes again
What did they do then?
Brigham Young and other leaders decided
to go west
 They felt that the Rocky Mountains might
provide a safe place
 They gathered all the provisions they could
and began leaving Nauvoo in 1846
 They only got to around Council Bluffs,
Iowa before they stopped for the winter
 They named their camp Winter Quarters

Hardships

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There was a hard winter
Many people died
Also, 500 men said good bye
to their families and were
enlisted to fight in the War
with Mexico
This group became known as
the Mormon Battalion
Moving out again
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In the Spring of 1847,
Brigham Young and a group
of mostly men left Winter
Quarters heading west
After a long journey, they
arrived in the valley of the
Great Salt Lake
Brigham Young said, “This is
the right place.”
Summary
 Mormons were pushed from place to place by
persecution
 They went through many hardships
 They found a sanctuary in Utah where no one
would bother them
 They felt they were doing the right thing
•James K. Polk, Democrat
• President from 1845 to 1849
•Responsible for the Manifest Destiny
•Expansionist
•Acquired the Oregon Territory from
Great Britain in 1846
•54’, 40’ or Fight
•49th Parallel
The Oregon Trail – Albert Bierstadt, 1869
Trails Westward
The Doomed Donner Party
April, 1846 – April, 1847
The Doomed Donner Party
CANNIBALISM
 Of the 83 members of the Donner
Party, only 45 survived to get to
California!
James Reed & Wife
The Oregon Dispute:54 40º
or Fight!
 By the mid1840s,
“Oregon Fever”
was spurred on
by the promise
of free land.
 The joint BritishU. S. occupation
ended in 1846.
The Bear Flag Republic
The Revolt  June 14, 1845
John C. Frémont
The Slidell Mission:
Nov., 1845
 Mexican recognition of the
Rio Grande River as the TXUS border.
 US would forgive American
citizens’ claims against the
Mexican govt.
 US would purchase the New
Mexico area for $5,000,000.
John Slidell
 US would buy California at
any price.
The Mexican War (1846-1848)
General Zachary Taylor at Palo Alto
“Old Rough and Ready”
The Bombardment of Vera Cruz
General Scott Enters Mexico City
“Old Fuss and Feathers”
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 1848
Nicholas Trist,
American Negotiator
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo,
1848
The Treaty was basically forced on Mexico!
 Mexico gave up claims to Texas above the
Rio Grande River.
 Mexico gave the U. S. California and New
Mexico.
 U. S. gave Mexico $15,000,000 and agreed
to pay the claims of American citizens
against Mexico over $3,500,000).
Results of the Mexican War?
1. The 17-month war cost $100,000,000 and 13,000+
American lives (mostly of disease).
2. New territories were brought into the Union which
forced the explosive issue of SLAVERY to the center of
national politics.
* Brought in 1 million sq. mi. of land (incl. TX)
3. These new territories would upset the balance of
power between North and South.
4. Created two popular Whig generals who ran for
President.
5. Manifest Destiny partially realized.
Results of the Mexican War?
 Trivial Pursuit Point of emphasis
 First time an American Army invaded another
country and occupied its capital
The Mexican Cession
Long Term Causes
•Manifest Destiny
•California
Immediate Causes
•Texas statehood, 1845
•Mexico refusing to sell California
•Border dispute
Effects
•US receives Mexican Cession
•Disputes over expansion of slavery will lead to
the Civil War
The 1848 Presidential Election Results
√
GOLD! At Sutter’s Mill, 1848
John A. Sutter
California Gold Rush, 1849
49er’s
Two Views of San Francisco, Early 1850s
 By 1860, almost
300,000
people had traveled
the Oregon &
California Trails to
the Pacific
coast.
Territorial Growth to 1853
Westward the Course of Empire
Emmanuel Leutze, 1860
The Pony Express
 Between April, 1860 and Nov. 1861.
 Delivered news and mail between St.
Louis, MO and San Francisco, CA.
 Took 10 days.
 Replaced by the completion of the
trans-continental telegraph line.
Oregon dispute
•Treaty with Great
Britain in 1846
•President Polk
campaign slogan was
54,40 or fight…
•Compromised with
British and divided the
Oregon Country at the
49th parallel
•American belief
that U.S. would
control the
continent from
the Atlantic to
the Pacific.
KEY EVENTS
•Texas statehood
•Oregon territory
•Mexican War
•Mexican Cession
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KEY EVENTS
•Pioneers Trek
West
•California trail
•Oregon trail
•Mormon’s trail
•California statehood
•Gold discovered
•Gold Rush
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