The American NationThe American Nation

Chapter 13Westward Expansion,

1820–1860

Copyright © 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.

The American NationThe American Nation

Copyright © 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.

Section 1: Oregon Country

Section 2: The Republic of Texas

Section 3: California and the Southwest

Section 4: The Mexican War

Chapter 13: Westward Expansion, 1820–1860

Section 5: Americas Rush West

Chapter 13, Section 4

The Mexican WarThe Mexican War

• How did the United States gain Oregon and Texas?

• What were the causes and results of the United States war with Mexico?

• What new lands did the United States acquire as a result of the Mexican War?

• How did a mix of cultures shape California and the Southwest?

The United States Gains Oregon and TexasThe United States Gains Oregon and Texas

Oregon• The United States and Britain agreed to a compromise. The two

countries divided Oregon at latitude 49°N latitude.• Later, the Oregon Territory became the states of Oregon,

Washington, and Idaho.

Texas• In 1844, Texan president Sam Houston signed a treaty of

annexation with the United States.• Fearing war with Mexico, the United States Senate refused to

ratify the treaty.• Houston pretended that Texas might ally itself with Britain. This

move prompted Congress to pass a joint resolution admitting Texas to the Union.

Chapter 13, Section 4

Causes and Results of the Mexican WarCauses and Results of the Mexican War

Causes Mexico did not accept Texan independence and was outraged by the United States annexation of Texas.Americans resented Mexico’s rejection of President Polk’s offer to buy California and New Mexico.A border dispute sparked war. Both nations claimed land between the Rio Grande and the Nueces River and sent troops into the area. President Polk claimed Mexico had invaded American soil and asked Congress to declare war

Results During the war, Americans in northern California revolted against Mexican rule and declared California an independent republic, the Bear Flag Republic. In the fighting, the United States won control of all of New Mexico and California. Despite the heroic stand of young Mexican soldiers in a battle at Chapultepec near Mexico City, American forces took over the Mexican capital.The Mexican government moved to make peace. In 1848, it signed the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, ending the war.

Chapter 13, Section 4

The Mexican WarThe Mexican WarChapter 13, Section 4

The United States Acquires New LandsThe United States Acquires New Lands

In the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, Mexico had to cede, or give up, some of its lands.• Mexico ceded all of California and New Mexico to the

United States. These lands were called the Mexican Cession.

• In return, the United States paid Mexico $15 million.• The United States agreed to respect the rights of Spanish-

speaking people in the Mexican Cession.In 1853, the United States bought the Gadsden Purchase.• The United States wanted to build a railroad across an area

that is now the southern part of Arizona and New Mexico.• The United States paid Mexico $10 million for the strip of

land, known as the Gadsden Purchase.

Chapter 13, Section 4

A Mix of Cultures in California and the SouthwestA Mix of Cultures in California and the Southwest

After 1848, English-speaking settlers flocked to the Southwest. They brought their culture and ideas about democracy.Ideas and practices that Americans adopted from the Mexican Americans who lived in the Southwest. • Silver mining techniques.• Methods of irrigation.• Spanish and Native American words, for example,

stampede, buffalo, tortilla, soda, and tornado.• Some Mexican laws, for example, one law that said that

a husband and wife owned property jointly and another law that said landowners could not cut off water to their neighbors.

Chapter 13, Section 4

Section 4 AssessmentSection 4 Assessment

Hard feelings between Mexico and the United States had been growing since Texas declared independence. War between the United States and Mexico finally broke out when

a) Congress annexed Texas.b) Mexican and American troops clashed in an area of land claimed by

both countries.c) Mexico refused to sell California.d) Sam Houston threatened to ally Texas with Britain.

American settlers in the Southwest adopted Mexican ways fora) mining silver.b) building railroads.c) writing a constitution.d) organizing a cession.

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Chapter 13, Section 4

Section 4 AssessmentSection 4 Assessment

Hard feelings between Mexico and the United States had been growing since Texas declared independence. War between the United States and Mexico finally broke out when

a) Congress annexed Texas.b) Mexican and American troops clashed in an area of land claimed by

both countries.c) Mexico refused to sell California.d) Sam Houston threatened to ally Texas with Britain.

American settlers in the Southwest adopted Mexican ways fora) mining silver.b) building railroads.c) writing a constitution.d) organizing a cession.

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Chapter 13, Section 4