US History - Manifest Destiny

Why did American settlers move out to Mexico-controlled Texas?

300 American families were originally asked to move out there; eventually other Americans immigrated there because it was a large amount of land to farm

Who coined the term "Manifest Destiny"?

John O'Sullivan

What technological innovations emerged during this time and how did it impact American society?

What are some reasons the RR industry grew during this time period?

As more and more people began to move out west, the need for speed to move west became increasingly necessary. There were many railroads connecting the North, but not many in the South and none in the West.

Where did the Transcontinental RR start from (on both ends) and what was the meeting point?

Union Pacific - Omaha, Nebraska to Promontory Summit, Utah

Central Pacific - Sacramento, California Promontory Summit, Utah

What are the reasons the German, Irish, and Chinese immigrate to the United States?

German - political unrest caused by riots, rebellion, a revolution in 1848

Irish - a great famine

Chinese - Opium Wars, poor economy, hope to become wealthy

How are each of the above groups treated? Where do they settle and work?

German - Depicted as rough and rowdy; States banned German-language schools; removed German books from libraries; Settled in Midwestern "German triangle," between Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin; worked as jewelry makers, musical instrument manufacturers, cabinetmakers, and tailors

Irish - Depicted as rough and rowdy; refused jobs based on ethnicity; hated that they were Roman-Catholic; Settled mainly in coastal states such as New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey; ferrymen, boatmen, tailors, construction workers, canal workers, railroad workers (often accept very low pay

Chinese - prohibited immigration, limited civil rights, and would not allow the Chinese to become citizens; Settled in the west; Work for Central Pacific RR Company

James K. Polk was elected president because of what appealing factor of his Democratic platform?

He fully supported westward expansion

Why did people from both the north and the south support Polk's bid for president?

Because Polk was able to link various expansion topics to the different ideals of both the north and the south

* North (more land = more room to set up business and industry out west)
* South (more land = more agriculture to be farmed)

Why did the Mexican-American War happen?

Zach Taylor sent to march from Nueces River to Rio Mrande --\> Mexico sees as aggression (both nations had conflict of border locations) --\> 1846 Mexico kill Americans on (in the US eyes) American soil; US thin border is Rio Grande; exico think border is Nueces

Why did it take 10 years to annex Texas into the United States?

Political divisions over slavery because Texas would become slave state; throws off the balance

How did the Gold Rush help California apply for statehood?

The now Booming population in that area needed a proper government, so it applied for state hood in 1849 (become 31st state 1850)

Does the United States still operate on the idea of Manifest Destiny today?

What modern day connections can you make to Nativism?

Some people in the US and other countries don't like the idea of immigrants increasing the population in the nation

What trails were established as a result of people moving out west?

• Oregon Trail - Independence, Missouri to Oregon City, Oregon

• Santa Fe Trail - Independence, Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico

• California Trail - Fort Hall, Idaho to Sutter's Fort, California

• Mormon Trail - Nauvoo, Illinois to Great Salt Lake, Utah

Why do the Westward Trails become obsolete?

With more modern inventions, like the railroad, going across the country by wagon became unnecessary.

Manifest Destiny

A notion held by a nineteenth-century Americans that the United States was destined to rule the continent, from the Atlantic the Pacific.

Transcontinental Railroad

Completed in 1869 at Promontory, Utah, it linked the eastern railroad system with California's railroad system, revolutionizing transportation in the west

Sam Houston

Commander of the Texas army at the battle of San Jacinto; later elected president of the Republic of Texas

Stephen Austin

Original settler of Texas, granted land from Mexico on condition of no slaves, convert to Roman Catholic, and learn Spanish

President Santa Anna

As dictator of Mexico, he led the attack on the Alamo in 1836. He was later defeated by Sam Houston at San Jacinto.

General Zach Taylor

Was a hero in the War with Mexico and later the 12th president, serving from March 1849 until his death in July 1850.

General Winfield Scott

United States Army lieutenant general, diplomat, and presidential candidate. He was responsible for defeating Santa Anna.

James K. Polk

11th president in 1845. Wanted to settle Oregon boundary dispute with Britain. Wanted to acquire California. Wanted to annex Texas into union.

John Tyler

Elected Vice President and became the 10th President of the United States when Harrison died 1841-1845, President responsible for annexation of Mexico after receiving mandate from Polk, opposed many parts of the Whig program for economic recovery

William Henry Harrison

(1841), was an American military leader, politician, the 9th President of the United States, and the first President to die in office (1 month because of pneumonia). His death created a brief Constitutional crisis, but ultimately resolved many questions about presidential succession left unanswered by the Constitution until passage of the 25th Amendment. Led US forces in the Battle of Tippecanoe.

Remember the Alamo

In the late 1830's, Texas, at the time belonging to Mexico, was populated by Anglo immigrants and Tejanos. At the alamo mission in San Antonio in 1836, the anglos and Tejanos rebelled against the tightening control of General Antonio López. Greatly outnumbered, the Texans made an unsuccessful attempt at revolt. This became their rallying cry during Texas' war for independence

1846 Oregon Treaty

This settled the joint claim by the British and the United States and extended the 49th parallel as the northern border of the U.S. all the way to the pacific

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

(1848) treaty signed by the U.S. and Mexico that officially ended the Mexican-American War; Mexico had to give up much of its northern territory to the U.S (Mexican Cession); in exchange the U.S. gave Mexico $15 million and said that Mexicans living in the lands of the Mexican Cession would be protected

Wilmot Proviso

1846 proposal that outlawed slavery in any territory gained from the War with Mexico (denied)

Pony Express

A Mail carrying service; ran from 1860-1861; was established to carry mail speedily along the 2000 miles from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California; they could make the trek in 10 days.

Election of 1840

William Henry Harrison (Whig) vs. Martin Van Buren (Democrat); result: Whig victory & a truly national two-party system; characterized by the mudslinging or the attack or insult on each others reputation.

Election of 1848

Candidates: 1. Zachary Taylor-winner, honest, ignorant (whig) 2. Martin Van Buren (Free Soil Party- made slavery an issue) 3. Lewis Cass-father of popular sovereignty (Democrat). Zachary Taylor became president, died in office, making his vice president Millard Fillmore president

Rio Grande River vs Nueces River

Mexico refused to sell California to US thinking that Texas' southern border was on the Nueces River; Polk and special envoy to Mexico City John Slidell, asserted that the border of TX is to the south, along the Rio Grande

John Slidell

A diplomat sent by Polk to buy California, New Mexico, and Texas from the Mexicans. Mexico rejected his offer and Polk sent Taylor's army into Mexico

Gadsden Purchase

1853 Agreement w/ Mexico that gave the US parts of present-day New Mexico & Arizona in exchange for $10 million; all but completed the continental expansion envisioned by those who believed in Manifest Destiny.

Gold Rush

A period from 1848 to 1856 when thousands of people came to California in order to search for gold.

49ers

People who rushed to california in 1849 for gold.

Compromise of 1850

California admitted as a free state