causes of westward migration (1840s)
-desire for access to natural and mineral resources
-hope of economic opportunities
-religious refuge
1819 transcontinental treaty
treaty between u.s and spain that established boundary for u.s. but had excluded texas
what happened in texas around february 1821?
americans led by stephen f. austin started to settle in the area and quickly began outnumbering mexicans; mexico recently gained independence from spain
what did the mexican president antonio lopez de santa anna do in february 1835?
he marched north with 6,000 mexican soldiers to subdue the americans in san antonio
what happened at the alamo (1835)?
americans and mexicans fought for a span of 10 days until americans were overpowered and killed by santa anna’s troops
davy crockett and jim bowie
killed during the mexican breaching of the alamo
how did texas gain independence from mexico?
in april 1836, forces under sam houston scored a victory over santa anna’s army, forcing him to recognize texan independence
under which president did texas finally become annexed as a state?
president james k polk after the mexican american war
who moved to the oregon territory in the 1830s?
methodist, presbyterian, and catholic missionaries made the 6-month journey to the willamette valley
oregon trail
2000-mile journey from the western edge of american settlement in missouri to oregon
what happened to the oregon territory in june 1846?
president polk was able to persuade the british to relinquish claims of the territory below the 49th parallel; treaty establishing oregon territory was approved by senate
where did mormons originially settle? why did they leave and where to?
-they originally settled in ohio in 1831 during the 2nd great awakening, led by joseph smith
-mormons have controversial practices like polygamy that christians disapproved of, and they were driven out of ohio by a mob
- brigham young led mormons to great salt lake in utah during 1847 where they remained
gold rush
1849-1850s era where california’s population surged from the discovery of gold in 1848
how were native indians affected by the gold rush?
california’s indian population of 150,000 was reduced to about 30,000 by 1860, resulting from widespread attacks at the hands of white settlers
manifest destiny
the whole continent was meant for white americans; it was theirs to exploit, theirs to make into one mighty nation, and theirs to display the virtues of democratic and christian institutions
homestead act (1862)
gave 160 acres to any settler who would farm the land for five years; was an effort to populate the sparsely populated territories in the midwest
transcontinental railroad
built in 1862 after the pacific railway act authorized subsidies in land and money for the construction; completed in 1869
how did america form ties with japan?
in 1853 and 1854 american warships under the command of matthew perry sailed into tokyo harbor; perry negotiated a treaty that demanded that the japanese trade with him.
kanagawa treaty
opened two ports to American shipping. This soon led to a commercial agreement on trade; the u.s. became more closely tied with asia than ever before