Essential Question

• How did Manifest Destiny change the United States?

Western Pioneers

Manifest Destiny

• Phrase coined by John Louis O’Sullivan in 1845

• Idea that God wanted Americans to settle all land in the west

Squatters

• Right of settlers to live on land before it was surveyed and sold

Farming Inventions

• John Deere – steel-bladed plow to cut sod

• Cyrus McCormick – mechanical reaper

Oregon Trail

• Most popular route for western development

• Wagon trains hired mountain men as guides

Oregon Trail

Oregon Trail

Oregon Trail

Oregon Trail

Oregon Trail

Mormon Trail

• First group led by Brigham Young

• Stopped at the Great Salt Lake in Utah

Mormon Trail

Mormon Trail

Mormon Trail

California Trail

California Trail

Donner Party

• 1846 – trapped in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada by heavy now

• 41 died of starvation

Butterfield Overland Mail

Santa Fe Trail

Santa Fe Trail

Santa Fe Trail

Independence for Texas

Open for Settlement

• Government of Mexico offered land to empresarios (land agents) to bring settlers into Texas

Stephen Austin

• The first to move into Texas

• Persuaded 1500 families to join him

Texas Unites

• Began discussing independence from Mexico

• Stephen Austin chosen as president

Santa Anna

• President of Mexico who declared himself dictator

• Arrested Austin when he came to negotiate

Sam Houston

• Took charge of organizing the Texan army

The Alamo

• 180 Texas rebels within

• Santa Anna’s army arrived in Feb. 1836

Quote, William B. Travis

“I call on you, in the name of liberty, of patriotism, and everything dear to American character, to come to our aid with all dispatch . . . Though this call may be neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible, and die like a soldier . . . Victory or death!”

The Alamo

• Texans held off Santa Ana’s army for 13 days before falling

• Houston’s army organized to fight

Battle of San Jacinto

• Houston’s army surprised the Mexicans

• April 21, 1836

• Captured Santa Anna and 700 soldiers

Republic of Texas

• Santa Anna signed a treaty that recognized Texas independence

• Sam Houston elected as first president (1836)

Writing Assignment• Imagine you are traveling west during the

1840s. Choose one of the following and write a “postcard from the trail.” Fold a white sheet of paper in half. On the front, draw a scene from your journey (remember – use lots of color!). On the inside, write a note to relatives or friends back east.

- Oregon Trail - Santa Fe Trail- Mormon Trail - Texas- California Trail