Manifest Destiny and Westward
Expansion (1830-1845)
J.A.SACCO
“Manifest Destiny”
Manifest Destiny had an immense impact on the
expansion of the U.S. .
Texas
Caused the start of the Mexican
War and gained the SW of the U.S..
Oregon
California
Conestoga Wagon
“Manifest Destiny”
American Progress” by John Gast, 1872
“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 federaltive 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.
“Manifest Destiny”
Manifest Destiny
Sen. Thomas Corwin
Costs?
Pres. James K. Polk
Benefits?
Primary Sources?
Causes of the Texas Revolution
• After Mexico gains independence from Spain in 1821, Mexico looking
to create a buffer zone between the population of Mexico in the
south and the Apache and Comanche tribes in the North.
Apache
Comanche
The Colonization of Texas
• To create a buffer, Mexico invites Americans into the region
south of the native Americans to act as a buffer.
Colonization Laws (1823-1825)
• Cheap land for American settlers
• 10 year exemption of taxes
• Americans must become Mexican citizens, follow Mexican
law, and convert to Roman Catholicism
National Colonization Act
• To facilitate colonization, the Mexican government grants land
agents (empresarios) to organize American settlers in Texas.
• Stephen Austin most famous.
Founded Washington-on-the- Brazos.
By the 1830’s had 1,500 Americans in
Texas.
Stephen Austin
“Texas at Fever Pitch”
What were the differences between the Mexican government and the American
colonists that caused tension between the two?
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Mexicans
Spanish
Roman Catholic
Santa Anna-Dictator
Anti-slavery laws
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Americans
English
Protestant
Federal-Republic when
living in U.S.. Use to
democracy.
“King Cotton”/slavery
Reaction and Revolution
• 1830- Mexican government forbid future American
colonization into Texas.
• Land grants suspended by Mexican government on American
settlement in Texas
• 1831- Mexico forbid future importation of slaves into Texas.
• Tax on all imports to discourage trade with the U.S.
Reaction and Revolution
• Stephen Austin acts as President for Texas Convention.
• Asks that Texas become a new Mexican state with a new
constitution for Texas.
• Mexico denies offer and Austin sends word to Texans to
prepare for war.
• Letter is intercepted and Austin is thrown in jail without trial
until 1835.
Santa Anna- Dictator of Mexico
• Santa Anna renounces the
Mexican Constitution of
1824 and pledges to crush
Texas revolution. Peace is
impossible
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
The Texas Revolution (1835-1836)
• Key to Texan success in the
revolution was to give Sam
Houston time to raise an
army and defeat Santa Anna.
Sam Houston
The Alamo (March 1836)
Heroes of the Alamo
Col. William Travis
Davy Crockett
Jim Bowie
The Alamo (March 1836)
• 180 men held the Alamo for 13 days. Gave Houston precious time to
raise an army. Two weeks later the Battle of Goliad gave the Texans
additional time.
The last stand of Davy Crockett
The Battle of
San Jacinto
(April
21,1836)
• Sam Houston defeats Santa Anna
• Santa Anna forced to sign Treaty
of Valasco
• Texas becomes independent but
Mexico does not recognize its
freedom
The United States and Texas
• Texas asks for immediate annexation by the U.S. in 1836
U.S. Refuses- Why?
• Jackson does not recommend annexation in fear of greater
tension between North and South
• Not want to risk war with Mexico
• However did recognize Texas as an independent nation