Western Expansion and Mexico

Manifest Destiny

the idea that God had given the entire continent to Americans and wanted them to settle the western lands

John O’Sullivan

news reporter, wrote about the “manifest destiny”

Squatters

 someone who settles on public land under government regulation with the hope of acquiring title to the land

Preemption Act of 1830

protected squatters by guaranteeing them the right to claim land before it was surveyed and to buy up to 160 acres at the minimum price of $1.25 per acre, was passed after facing public pressure

John Sutter

received 50,00 acres of land from the governor of California, to build a trading post and cattle ranch, became Sutter’s Fort in Sacramento Valley, became the first stopping point for Americans when traveling to California

Early (not native) American citizens in California

As more Americans arrived in California, the differences between California and Southern Mexico grew, by 1845 there were only 700 Americans in California

Oregon Trail

Overlanders

someone who travels overland to the West

Treaty of Fort Laramie 1851

U.S. promised 8 Native American groups the land of the Great Plains would belong to them as long as American settlers were allowed to peacefully pass through, U.S. would pay the 8 groups, not all 8 agreed, the U.S. government did not pay

John Deere

engineered a plow with steel blades, great agricultural advancement, 1837

Cyrus McCormick 

patented the mechanical reaper in 1834, farmers could harvest far more gain with much less effort

Brigham Young and Mormon migration

church’s new leader after Joseph Smith (founder) died, took the Mormons west to avoid persecution, forged a path later known as the Mormon Trail, 1847 the Mormons stopped at the Great Salt Lake in Utah

Missionaries

1830s, American missionaries began arriving in Oregon to convert Native Americans, spread the word about Oregon and persuaded others to come to the disputed territory

The Oregon Question/ “Fifty-four Forty or Fight”

U.S. + G.B. + Native Americans all laid claim to Oregon County which included Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, the rallying cry was “Fifty-four Forty or Fight” which declared that the U.S. should control Oregon below the line of 54 40’ north latitude

Forty Niners

those who moved to California for the gold rush