An Age of Expansion
Young AmericansThe new young men of America – mid 1800’sStood for industrial growthExpansionWanted Texas, Oregon and Mexican TerritoriesMostly young Democrats
OregonArea between Rockies and Pacific OceanUnited States and England both claimed this areaAmerican northern border became 49th parallel (later northern border of Washington State)
MexicoGained independence from Spain 1821Republic of Mexico (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah and much of Colorado)Mexico opened lands to immigrationMust be Catholic /non-slave
TexasStephen F. AustinAttracted others to settle in TexasWithin a year =2,021Friction developed between Mexican government and settlersMany in Texas refused to free their slavesSoon Mexico stopped further immigration
Texans were also upset that they were not allowed self governmentAustin went to Mexico to speak with commanderBan on immigration liftedAustin was arrested and jailed
Texas Independence1835 Texans revoltedSanta Anna sent troops to put down the revolutionAlamo, Goliad, etc Sam Houston defeated Santa Anna at San Jacinto RiverIndependence March 2, 1836
MormonsReligious sect founded in AmericaJoseph Smith was the founder- published the Book of the MormonsEstablished communities in Ohio and Missouri – 1837Persecuted
Brigham Young – 1,500 – established a colony near the Great Salt LakePolygamy practiced (more than one spouse)Later the United States would try and get rid of the Mormons by forceLater the 2 sides agreed on peace and Mormons accepted US authority
Manifest Destiny
American belief that God was on the side of their expansionLeaders in America wanted all lands west and as much north and south as they could get
Fifty-four forty or Fight
Americans were willing to go to war over the Oregon Territory 1845-1846United States and England avoided warPresident Polk let Congress decide on the agreement (boundary)
War With MexicoUnited States annexed TexasMexico and United States at odds over boundaryGeneral Zachary Taylor was sent to Rio GrandeApril 24 Mexican army crossed the riverWar – with MexicoAmericans marched deep into Mexico (Mexico City)
Ended WarAdded 500,000 square miles to the size of America20% largerCalifornia, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, and Arizona and parts of Colorado
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Railroads1840’s trains reached speeds of 20-30 mphVery unsafeUsed to transport people and suppliesRailroad boom – across AmericaLink American cities and coast to coastEnormous boost to American economySteele industry growth
Industrial Revolution
Eli Whitney – Cotton GinMade the production of cotton less expensive and more profitable (effect on slaves?)
Cyrus McCormick – reaper – cut six acres of grain a day
Elias Howe – sewing machine (effect?)
Bessemer process – removed impurities from steel
Edwin Drake – First oil well
John Deer – Steel Plow
Samuel Morse – Telegraph – intercontinental cable
Charles Goodyear – rubber
George Pullman – Pullman Car (effect?)
Gold Rush
Gold discovered in California. Causes mass movement of people to California
Immigration1820’s –1840’s – 700,000 immigrantsMainly from Great Britain and Germany1840’s –1860’s – 4.2 millionMost from Ireland – potato famine
Poor, disease ridded, catholicMost to the cities to fill needed factory jobsTenements and ghettosMany Germans went into western areas – less prejudice
New Working ClassMost minorities ended in factories, mines and construction camps, and railroadsFactory workers – low wages and owners large profitsWorking class was no longer the artisans and factories were no longer the province of women and children
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