US History II - Chapter 4

Westward Expansion: Overview

  • Essential Questions

    • What unites nations?

    • Why do people migrate?

  • Unit Overview

    • Manifest Destiny

    • Texas’ Fight for Independence

    • Mexican-American War

Growth of the United States (1783-1853)

  • Major territorial acquisitions:

    • Oregon Country:

      • Ceded to Great Britain (1818), formalized by Webster-Ashburton Treaty (1842).

    • Louisiana Purchase:

      • Acquired from France (1803).

    • Texas Annexation:

      • Annexed as an independent republic (1845).

    • Mexican Cession:

      • Acquired from Mexico following war.

    • Gadsden Purchase:

      • Acquired territory south of the Gila River (1853).

Manifest Destiny

  • Main Idea: The belief that Americans were destined to expand westward from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

  • Motivations for westward expansion:

    • Escape religious persecution.

    • Searching for new markets.

    • Land for farming, ranching, and mining.

    • Locating Pacific harbors.

    • Seeking employment after the Panic of 1837.

    • Spreading democracy.

Settlers and Native Americans

  • Black Hawk War:

    • Led by Chief Black Hawk, resulted in the forced removal of Sauk and Fox tribes.

  • Fort Laramie Treaty:

    • Established boundaries for Native American lands and protections for settlers, but ultimately broken by the US government.

Trails West

  • Sante Fe Trail:

    • A trading route of 780 miles from Missouri to Santa Fe, NM.

  • Oregon Trail:

    • Covered the same route as Lewis and Clark, reported fertile land.

The Mormon Migration

  • Founded by Joseph Smith, initially faced persecution due to polygamy.

  • Brigham Young led Mormons to settle near the Great Salt Lake, allocating land to families.

Texas and American Expansion

  • Stephen Austin:

    • Most successful empresario, facilitated American settlement in Texas.

  • Tensions with Mexico arose from cultural differences and slavery issues.

  • Texas declared independence during the Texas Revolution, leading to significant conflicts such as the Battle of the Alamo.

Mexican-American War

  • Causes:

    • US annexation of Texas, disputes over borders, especially the Rio Grande vs. Nueces River.

    • Polk's push for territorial expansion.

  • Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848):

    • Ended the war, Mexico ceded vast territories (California, New Mexico, etc.) to the US for $15 million.

Post-War America

  • Following the war, the Gadsden Purchase added further territory.

  • The Gold Rush (1849) catalyzed migration to California, leading to population and economic growth, with diverse communities forming.

Recap of Major Events

  • US expansion under James K. Polk highlighted by the ideology of manifest destiny.

  • Major acquisitions included Texas, parts of the Southwest, and the Oregon Territory, settled through agreements and conflict.