This document summarizes key events related to westward expansion in the United States between 1836-1848, including the annexation of Texas, debates over slavery in new territories, and the Mexican-American War. It discusses John O'Sullivan coining the term "Manifest Destiny" to describe America's destiny to expand across North America, as well as American settlement of Texas and Oregon and conflicts with Mexico over the borders of Texas and territories in the West. The Mexican War resulted in the Mexican Cession of territories including California and New Mexico to the United States through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848.

1. Looking Westward
pp. 348-359

3. Manifest DestinyManifest Destiny
 Writer John O’Sullivan coined the phrase in 1845
 Destined by God & history to expand from coast to coast
 Fit w/ nationalism movement
 Racial motives for expansion
 “Racial purity” & superiority of the “American race”
 Expansion opposed by some, including Clay
 Would re-open debate of spreading slavery westward

5. TexasTexas
 1803—Claimed by U.S. in LA Purchase
 1819—Given to Spain as part of Adams-Onis Treaty
 1821—Becomes part of Mexico as Mexico gains its independence, American
settlement is encouraged
 1835—30K Americans living in Texas

6. TexasTexas
 1836—Americans in Texas declare their
independence from Mexico/Texas gains
independence
 “Remember the Alamo”—All 187 defenders
die
 Sam Houston’s forces route Santa Anna at San
Jacinto & TX is free
 Only 18 minutes; 600+ Mexicans killed &
700+ captured
 Only 9 Texans died
 Houston=1st
President of Texas
 Pop. of TX=150K by 1845
 1845—After much debate, the U.S. annexes
Texas; Mexico breaks diplomatic ties w/
U.S.
 Both Jackson & Van Buren shelved the TX
question due to sectionalism

7. Davy Crockett, “Gone to Texas”

8. I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the
Mexicans under Santa Anna I have sustained a
continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours
& have not lost a man The enemy has demanded a
surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are
to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken I have
answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our
flag still waves proudly from the walls I shall never
surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name
of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the
American character, to come to our aid, with all
dispatch The enemy is receiving reinforcements
daily & will no doubt increase to three or four
thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected,
I am determined to sustain myself as long as
possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what
is due to his own honor & that of his country
VICTORY OR DEATH.
William Barret Travis,
inside the Alamo,
February 24, 1836

10. Oregon TerritoryOregon Territory
 Claimed by both Brits (George Vancouver) & the U.S. (Robert Gray)
 1818—Agreed to joint occupation
 1820s/1830s—Few white settlers, mostly fur traders
 1836—Marcus & Narcissa Whitman est. mission
 1843—Oregon Trail popularized; 5K settlers w/in next 2 yrs.
 1846—Despite “54° 40° or Fight,” Polk settles border at 49° N (same
as today)
 1847—Cayuse Indians attack & kill Whitmans

11. Election of 1844Election of 1844
 Incumbent Tyler was harmed by
his Sec. of State, Calhoun
 Calhoun had hoped to annex
Texas in order to strengthen
southern slavery
 Idea leaked to newspapers
 “His accidency” was doomed
 Polk ran on a pro-expansion
platform
 Clay avoided the issue of
annexing Texas
 Expansion of slavery &
annexation of TX=central issues
 Voter turnout=78.9%!!!!

12. Election of 1844Election of 1844

13. President PolkPresident Polk
 #11: 1845-1849
 Democrat from TN
 “Young Hickory”
 Had been Speaker of the House
& Governor of TN
 Acquired more land than any
other president
 Did NOT seek re-election; died
months after leaving office

14. TrailsTrails
 Oregon Trail
 Fertile Williamette Valley
 California Trail
 Popularized w/ Gold Rush
 Mormon Trail
 1846-1848; 1st
group led by Brigham Young
 “Winter Quarters” in North Omaha
 Santa Fe Trail
 Est. in 1821—Trade
 *See map on p. 353

16. Life on the TrailLife on the Trail
 “Jumping off towns”
 Independence, MO; St. Joseph, MO & Council Bluffs, IA
 Mostly family units until Gold Rush; hired guides
 2,000 miles; 4-6 months
 Various hardships:
 Weather, disease (cholera & typhoid fever), rugged terrain
 Native Americans often acted as guides & trade partners; occasional
conflict, but often sensationalized
 *More deaths from accidental gunshots than Native attacks

18. Mexican WarMexican War
 Mexico refused to recognize Texas’ independence
 Border dispute (Rio Grande or Neuces?); see map on p. 356
 Polk sends Zachary Taylor to TX & tells navy to capture CA ports if
Mexico declares war
 Polk then offered to buy disputed areas (Slidel, $25 million for NM &
CA)
 War declared in May of 1846; overwhelmingly supported by Congress
 War had many critics
 Ulysses S. Grant, Abraham Lincoln, Henry David Thoreau
 See quotes on p. 357

19. Mexican WarMexican War
 Stephen Kearny captured Santa Fe w/ no opposition (1846)
 Kearny & Fremont captured California (1846)
 Bear Flag Revolt
 Winfield Scott captures Mexico City (1847)
 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)
 Mexican Cession (see map on p. 358)
 U.S. paid $15 million
 Some wanted “All Mexico!”

21. Wilmot ProvisoWilmot Proviso
 What is the status of slavery in the newly acquired territory?
 David Wilmot, from PA, anti-slavery Democrat
 Proviso prohibited slavery in new territory
 Passed House, but not Senate
 Debate lingered; sectionalism intensified