American Progress (1872) American Progress (1872) by by John GastJohn Gast

1. What do you see in the picture?2. What does it tell you about American expansion into the West?

American Progress American Progress AnalysisAnalysis Columbia; the early poetic

name for the United States

Leads civilization westward with American settlers

She strings telegraph wire as she travels; she holds a school book

Different economic activities of the pioneers are highlighted

Changing forms of transportation are highlighted

The Indians and wild animals are fleeing

Life in the WestLife in the West

Essential Questions: 1.How did the U.S. acquire Western lands?2.What was life like on the journey West?3.Why did American settlers choose to go West?4.How did people make the move westward?5.Why did people move west?

America Expands: Texas America Expands: Texas AnnexationAnnexation

In 1837, the Republic of Texas, won its independence from Mexico

In 1844 James Polk, a strong supporter of territorial expansion, won the Presidency

While John Tyler was still President, but with President-elect Polk's quiet support, Congress approved annexation on 28 February 1845◦ The vote in the Senate was 27 to

25

Tyler approved the Joint Resolution, and Texas became a part of the United States

America Expands: Mexican America Expands: Mexican CessianCessian Region of the present day

southwestern United States that was ceded to the U.S. by Mexico in 1848

Occurred under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo which ended the Mexican-American War

The United States also paid $15,000,000 for the land, and agreed to assume $3.25 million in debts of U.S. citizens

The land ceded by Mexico is 15% of the total area of the current United States territory

Colonization of North Colonization of North AmericaAmerica

The Move WestwardThe Move Westward Settlers believed owning and

working the land gave them a claim to it

◦ Was the land unsettled?

Settlers argued natives had forfeited their rights to the land because they had not “improved” the land

Settlers, called pioneers, migrated as families and settled along rivers

◦ This helped facilitate trade

Pioneers often settled among others who came from the same areas of the East, shared similar customs, or religion.

Santa Fe TrailSanta Fe Trail A transportation route

connecting Missouri with Santa Fe, New Mexico

It served as a vital commercial and military highway until the introduction of the railroad

It served as the U.S. invasion route of New Mexico during the Mexican-American War

Was 900 miles of arid plains, desert and mountains

On this trail there was a serious danger of Indian attacks

Lack of food and water also made the trail very risky