Download - The Paths West History of the American West. Daily Question The population of the United States west of the Appalachians was less than 100,000 in 1790.

The Paths West

History of the American West

Daily Question

The population of the United States west of the Appalachians was less than 100,000 in 1790.

What was the population west of the Appalachians in 1820?

Take 3 guesses on a ¼ sheet of paper. 7,000,000

Introduction

Settlement was the key to American conquest of the continent.

Everyone was craving land. By 1840, 8 states formed west of the

Appalachians 3 west of the Mississippi

What paved the way for settlers to move West?

Lt. Zebulon Pike

Claim to fame? Pike’s Peak

Explored the southern reaches of the LA Territory/Rocky Mtns. (1806)

Strayed into Spanish Territory Came home with description of Spanish

Territory & of interior plains.

Stephen H. Long

Stepped across the plains in 1820. Unfit for cultivation Uninhabitable for people depending on

agriculture. “Great American Desert”

William Becknell

Trading expedition 1821-22 Returned home with Mexican silver. Escorted to Santa Fe, NM Sold goods to the Mexicans Generated interest with the governor.

The Result…

Santa Fe Trail Summer, 1822 Becknell blazes a route Started in _______________. Ended in ________________. Huge trading route ($145,000/yr.)

Items Exported to New Mexico

Tools Household utensils Fabric Latest fashions (American & European) Wallpaper Glass

The Medium of Exchange

Mexican silver Mules were also traded to the

Americans. Missouri started mule production from this

point.

Many American goods became in hot demand in Mexico.

Oregon

“the most valuable of all the unoccupied parts of the earth.”

Spain, Russia, Britain had interest Too sparsely populated to fight over. US & Britain joint occupation for 10 yrs. Religious motivations.

The Oregon Trail

Started in Independence, MO 2,000 miles Problems

Mountains Cold, swift streams No spare parts Right pulling animal Mosquitoes

Why not the plains?

Land assigned to Indians Treeless Great Plains—a “desert” Desire for greater resources

Assignment

Look at p. 187-188 in your book. Give a step-by-step account of the

journey along the Oregon Trail.

The Journey to Texas

Tejanos-native-born Mexicans Interested in money, horses, women Pike opened trade with them Rancheros

Longhorn cattle-by Spanish Foundation of economy Dress


Filibusters Land pirates Defeated San Antonio Other invasions reduced the population in

half.


Moses Austin Applied for a land grant in Texas.

300 families Approved in 1821

Died on the way home.


Stephen F. Austin Claimed Texas as his bride

Settlers Given 177 acres of farmland or 4428 acres for grazing

Flourishing goods Cattle Cotton Exported to US


900 additional families Empresarios-development for land Texans soon outnumbered Tejanos Slavery

Banned by Mexico “Contract Labor”


Colonization Law (1830) Canceled all empresario contracts Banned immigration from US Occupation of Texas by Mexican Army

Texas Fever Cattle was fatter, sugar cane was taller and

the cotton was finer… GTT-”Gone to Texas”


Factions Peace Party (Austin)

Self-rule as a Mexican Colony Legalized slavery Free trade w/US

Texian War Party Annexation w/US

Toward Texas Independence

Austin Thrown in Jail Became a believer in independence

New leaders David Crockett Samuel Houston

Violence in Texas

Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna Declared national control of local affairs Dictatorship Texans forced Mexican troops from San

Antonio Fortified themselves in the Alamo Mexicans invade the Alamo 3/6/1836. 5 hrs., 600 Mexican & 187 Texans died.


Santa Anna Attacked Goliad-executed 371 Anglos Divided army to burn and plunder

Houston surprised Mexicans at San Jacinto River (4/21).

Captured and forced to sign a Treaty granting Texas independence.

The Republic of Texas

Houton-president Tejano prejudice & violence

“White folks and Mexicans were never made to live together, anyhow.”

Recognized as an independent country by the U.S. in 1837

Legalized Slavery-barred legal residence of “free persons of color.”

Manifest Destiny

John L. O’Sullivan We were destined by God to expand

across the continent James K. Polk

Expansionist platform Annex Oregon & Texas Divided Oregon at 49th parallel 1845-Texas-28th state

Mexican-American War

Santa Anna Annexation of TX would be “equivalent to a

declaration of war.”

Polk wanted to take California Sent Maj. Gen. Zachary Taylor into

Mexican Territory Mexico attacked Congress declared war on May 13, 1846


Guerilla fighting 3 Fronts

Northern Mexico New Mexico California

Irregular settler forces


1847-Invasion of Mexico City First amphibious operation in US military

history Landed at Vera Cruz Marched across same land as Cortes Mexicans attacked then used guerilla

maneuvers. American attacked civilians


Americans conquered Mexico City (9/14/1847)

Public Opinion Mostly outrage First American war covered by the

telegraph.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Confirmed annexation of Texas Rio Grande-international boundary Reparations

Mexico ceded California and New Mexico US paid $15 million US gave American citizens $3.75 million

for land they claimed.

Results of the War

13,000 Americans killed 20,000 Mexicans Cost the US $2.3 billion in today’s dollars. Mexico lost 602 million acres (1/3 of

domain) Male citizens of Mexico could choose

citizenship in either country. Eventually driven out

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1840

1850

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Manifest Destiny

Expansion to the Pacific Seen as obvious and inevitable Not necessarily a religious idea Spread of democracy and European-

American lifestyle Exterminate or convert Native Americans Tame the western landscape

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Manifest Destiny

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What do you think the woman in this picture represents?

• What is she doing?

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What are these people doing, and why do you think they are in the picture?

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What does this part of the picture show? What is its significance?

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Who else is being forced westward? What is happening here?

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Why do you think this bear was included in this part of the picture?

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Can you tell what is going on here?

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Why do you think the artist painted this picture?

What is the larger message he was trying to convey about Manifest Destiny?