Unit 6c - Expansion and Reform - Western Expansion

Manifest Destiny

The idea that God wanted the United States to takeover the entire continent and settle in the west.

Squatters

Early pioneers who did not own the land they settled on in the west. Congress had to pass the Preemption Act of 1830 to protect them to guarantee them right to buy the land.

Mechanical Reaper

Cyrus McCormick invented a reaper that could be pulled by horses or mules to harvest grain with less effort.

Steel Tipped Plow

Invented by John Deere this plow helps speed up farming.

Trails to the West

Mountain men and fur trappers gained knowledge of trails from Native Americans. The Oregon Trail, California Trail, and the Santa Fe Trail were popular trails to the west.

Overlanders

These were emigrants who traveled to the west in covered wagons. They often traveled in groups and used guidebooks. The trip took 5 to 6 months.

Native Americans

Travelers often feared Native American attacks but violent interactions between the two rarely occurred. Native Americans were frequently helpful and traded with emigrants. Native Americans grew concerned when more settlers began to move across the country and threaten the buffalo. The Plains Indians heavily depended on the buffalo for basic necessities.

The Mormon Migration

The Mormon's emigrated across the United States for religious freedom. They were persecuted for their strange Christian beliefs and for their controversial belief in polygamy. Their leader Joseph Smith was killed. Their next leader Brigham Young decided to move them out west to escape persecution. They followed a trail now called the Mormon Trail and settled along the Great Salt Lake in what is now Utah.

Mexico's Independence

Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821 and inherited the sparsely populate northern border which includes New Mexico, California, and Texas. This region frequently experienced problem with Native Americans and problems from United States westward expansion. Trade increased after Mexico became independent from Spain.

California and New Mexico

Two northern territories of Mexico where ranching was prevalent. American settlers moved into the area before Mexican independence, and immigration increased afterwards. John Sutter, an American, was granted land in the Sacramento Valley by the governor of California. William Becknell, an American, opened up the Santa Fe trail to New Mexico.

Texas

A Northern territory of Mexico. Before Mexico gained independence Spain started to invite american settlers in to the territory. Mexico continued this policy after they gained independence. This increased tensions between Tejanos, Spanish-speaking Mexicans, and American Settlers.

Empresarios

A person who arranges for the settlement of Texas in the early 1800s. It means agents or contractors in Spanish. In exchange for land the empresarios promised to fill the land with settlers and govern the colonies they established following the law of the Mexican government. Settlers were to speak Spanish, convert to Catholicism, and not bring their slaves. Slavery was against the law in Mexico.

Edwards' Rebellion

Benjamin Edwards led a rebellion against the Mexican Government and declared that the American Settlers were independent. Mexico began to tighten restrictions on U.S. settlements. It closed its borders to further American immigration and the taxed imported goods to discourage trade with the United States. This angered many American settlers.

Stephen Austin

The most successful empresario who established a large American settlement in Texas. He was elected head of the Texas settler convention which asked Mexico to reopen its borders and ease taxes on imports. He was sent by the convention to negotiate with Mexico and was arrested on his way home and accused of trying to start a rebellion. Austin urged Texas to organize an army.

Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna

President of Mexico who believed that the American settlers were trying to rebel against the Mexican government. He declared himself a dictator.

Texas Independence

Texas declared itself an independent nation on March 2, 1836. It drafted a Constitution modeled after the United States Constitution, but protected slavery. The "Lone Star" Republic.

The Alamo

Texan rebels took refugee in an abandon Catholic mission called the Alamo. They tried to delay Santa Anna and the Mexican forces. Their call for reinforcements went unanswered but the Texan rebels were able to hold off the Mexican Army for 13 days. Their sacrifice became a rally cry during the Texas Rebellion, "Remember the Alamo."

Sam Houston

Former governor of Tennessee and a military leader he took over the Texas forces. He was elected the first president of the Republic of Texas.

The Battle of San Jacinto

Houston and his men ambushed Santa Anna and the Mexican Army. Texan rebels were able to win a stunning victory against the Mexican Army. Santa Anna was captured and forced to sign a treaty recognizing Texas's independence. Mexico's Congress refused to recognize the treaty but did not want to to fight another war. Texas had won.

The Republic of Texas

U.S. settlements declared themselves independent from Mexico. Texas was its own country after the Battle of San Jacinto. The Republic of Texas elected Sam Houston as their first president. They also voted for annexation and wanted to be added to the United States. President Andrew Jackson did not want to increase tensions between the North and South or start a war with Mexico. He did not encourage Congress to annex Texas, but did recognize Texas as an independent nation.

Annexation

The incorporation of a territory within the domain of a country. The addition of territory to a country. (Annex = addition)

Annexation of Texas

This issue increased the tension between the North and South. Texas would be added in as a slave state with a sizable population. Northerners opposed the annexation while the South supported the annexation. Leaders also worried that annexing Texas would cause a war with Mexico. Mexico did not recognize Texas's independence.

Election of 1844

President Tyler was an unpopular president and did not run for reelection. Whig candidate Henry Clay ran against Democrat James K. Polk. Polk ran on an expansion campaign and promised to annex Texas and the Oregon Territory. The Whig vote split when some of them began to support the Liberty Party. James K. Polk won the election.

"Fifty-four Forty or Fight"

A Manifest Destiny slogan that represented the idea that the United States's northern border should extend to the 54°40' latitude line. Eventually Britain and the United States signed the Oregon Treaty. They agreed that the 49° parallel was a good division of the land. The United States got everything south of the 49° parallel and Britain got everything that was north.

James K. Polk

First "dark horse" candidate because he was not expected to win. He ran on a Manifest Destiny campaign. Once he took office he encouraged the United States to declare war on Mexico.

The War with Mexico/The Mexican American War

President Tyler pushed annexation through Congress and Mexico broke diplomatic relations with the U.S.. Texas and Mexico also disputed the boundaries of Texas. Polk sent John Slidell to meet with Mexican President José Joaquín Herrera. President Herrera refused to meet and refused to sell California. Polk encouraged U.S. General Zachary Taylor to go into the disputed area. General Taylor sent reports of a skirmish between his troops and Mexico to Polk. Polk presented the report to Congress and encouraged Congress to declare war on Mexico. The United States was able to win the war against Mexico. It added a large amount of land and opened up U.S. trade with Asia.

Bear Flag Republic

General Taylor's troops defeated the Mexican Army in California. U.S. settlers led by John C. Frémont revolted against the Mexican government and declared themselves independent. The Bear Flag Republic ended when American forces arrived and took possession of California for the United States.

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

General Winfield Scott led U.S. troops into Mexico and captured Mexico City. This lead to the end of the war and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Provisions of the treaty included the following: 1) Mexico would cede (give up) 500,000 square miles to the U.S., 2) Mexico accept the Rio Grande as the boundary between Mexico and Texas, 3) U.S. would pay Mexico $15 million and agreed to take on $3.5 million of Mexico's debt to U.S. citizens.

Popular Sovereignty

the idea that people living in a territory had the right to decide by voting whether to allow slavery in their territory.

The Wilmot Proviso

Representative David Wilmot, a Democrat from PA, proposed an addition to a war appropriations bill to ban slavery in any territory gained by Mexico. This sparked a debate in Congress. The House passed the bill while the Senate did not. John C. Calhoun argued that it was against the 5th amendment for Congress to prohibit slavery in a territory and a state.

The Gold Rush

In 1848 gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill in California. By 1849 thousands of people were rushing to get rich quick. California's rapid population growth allowed for it apply to become a state. While a large portion of California was underneath the 36°30 line, California apply to enter the Union as Free state. This angered many Southerners because it would upset the balance of free and slave states in Congress.

The Compromise of 1850

Originally proposed by Henry Clay this compromised proposed eight resolutions. 1) California be entered in a free state, 2) Land gained from Mexico would have no restriction on slavery, 3) Texas would cede some of its land to the New Mexico Territory, 4) The federal government would take Texas's debts, 5) The slave trade would be outlawed in Washington D.C. but slavery would still be legal, 6) A stricter fugitive slave act would be passed. John C. Calhoun and President Taylor opposed the Compromise. Stephen A. Douglas was able to pass the compromise by introducing each provision as its own bill. Also, Calhoun and Taylor died ended their opposition. President Fillmore approved of the compromise and passed it.

Gadsden Purchase

President Pierce sent James Gadsden to Mexico to purchase a northern section of Mexico. The U.S. paid $10 million for the purchase and it completed the lower 48 states. It was purchased to build a transcontinental railroad in the South.

The Kansas-Nebraska Act

Stephen A. Douglas wanted the Transcontinental Railroad to start in his home state of Illinois at Chicago. To gain southern support he proposed a bill to repeal the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and divide the remaining Louisiana Territory into two territories, Kansas and Nebraska. This act would also allow the people of each territory to use popular sovereignty to decide the issue of slavery. Northerners were outraged and called Douglas a traitor. Southerners supported this plan because it opened up previously close territory to slavery. This increased sectional tensions over the issue of slavery.