Manifest Destiny, Annexation of Texas, Oregon Trail

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

4. 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
 1836—Americans in Texas declare their independence from
Mexico/Texas gains independence
 1845—After much debate, the U.S. annexes Texas; Mexico breaks
diplomatic ties w/ U.S.
 JQA & AJ had both tried to purchase TX previously

5. 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

6. Election of 1844Election of 1844
Polk ran on a pro-
expansion platform
Clay avoided the
issue of annexing
Texas

7. TrailsTrails
 Oregon Trail
 California Trail
 Mormon Trail
 Santa Fe Trail
 *See map on p. 353

8. 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

10. 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

11. 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!”

12. 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