Westward Ho!!Or, how to go coast to coast in just a

few years…

EQs- How and why did America expand during the 1840s?

What was the impact of expansion on sectionalism?

Maine Boundary Maine Boundary Settlement, 1842Settlement, 1842Maine Boundary Maine Boundary Settlement, 1842Settlement, 1842

Key Figures in Texas Key Figures in Texas Independence,Independence, 1836 1836Key Figures in Texas Key Figures in Texas Independence,Independence, 1836 1836

Sam Houston(1793-1863)

Sam Houston(1793-1863)

Stephen Austin(1793-1836)

Stephen Austin(1793-1836)

Steve Austin

Texas Settlement

• Stephen Austin • Mexico’s deal– 4600 acres per family– Convert to Cath.– $.12 per acre to Austin (10X less than in US)

• Southern slaveholders

The Republic of TexasThe Republic of TexasThe Republic of TexasThe Republic of Texas

Texas Independence 1836

• Causes of Texas’ Independence– Mexico outlaws slavery– Taxes & troops in Texas– Protection of rights

• Texas revolt & Independence 1836• Mex. Gen. Santa Anna attacks Alamo• Sam Houston leads Texas victory– Captured Santa Anna signs Indep.

The Battle of the The Battle of the AlamoAlamo

The Battle of the The Battle of the AlamoAlamo

General Antonio Lpez de Santa Anna Recaptures the Alamo

General Antonio Lpez de Santa Anna Recaptures the Alamo

Remember the Alamo!Remember the Alamo!Remember the Alamo!Remember the Alamo!

Admit Texas as a State??

• North says Nay (many little slave states)

• South says Yea!!! (slave states)• Fearing Brit. & France nice-nice w/ Texas– Pres. Tyler/Calhoun negotiate statehood treaty – Sen. rejects Annex… over slavery

• Polk runs on taking Texas/Oregon

Pres. John Tyler S.o.S. John Calhoun

Admit Texas as a State??

• North says Nay (many little slave states)

• South says Yea!!! (slave states)• Fearing Brit. & France nice-nice w/ Texas– Pres. Tyler/Calhoun negotiate statehood treaty – Sen. rejects Annex… over slavery

• Polk runs on taking Texas/Oregon

Texas Annexation 1845

• ’44 Pro-expansion Polk defeats Clay (who “molded” and “shaped” a flip-flopping image)

• Outgoing Pres. Tyler pushes admission of Texas through Congress (Feb. 1845)– No more than 4 states– Missouri Comp.’s 36o 30’ extended

James Polk

Disputed Texas Territory

Wilmot Proviso, 1846Wilmot Proviso, 1846Wilmot Proviso, 1846Wilmot Proviso, 1846

No slavery in any Mexican War landsNo slavery in any Mexican War lands

Congr. David Wilmot(D-PA)

Congr. David Wilmot(D-PA)

Mexican War 1846-48

• $25 m. purchase fails

• Mexico City taken Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo– Cali/New Mexico– $15 m. to Mex. (+$3 m.)

Treaty of Guadalupe-Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 1848Hidalgo, 1848

Treaty of Guadalupe-Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 1848Hidalgo, 1848

Nicholas Trist,American

Negotiator

Nicholas Trist,American

Negotiator

The Mexican CessionThe Mexican CessionThe Mexican CessionThe Mexican Cession

Land Acquisition

Overland Immigration to Overland Immigration to the Westthe West

Overland Immigration to Overland Immigration to the Westthe West

Between 1840 and 1860, more than250,000 people made the trekwestward.

Between 1840 and 1860, more than250,000 people made the trekwestward.

The Oregon TrailThe Oregon Trail – Albert – Albert Bierstadt, 1869Bierstadt, 1869

The Oregon TrailThe Oregon Trail – Albert – Albert Bierstadt, 1869Bierstadt, 1869

Trails WestwardTrails WestwardTrails WestwardTrails Westward

The Oregon Dispute: The Oregon Dispute: 54’ 54’ 40º or Fight!40º or Fight!

The Oregon Dispute: The Oregon Dispute: 54’ 54’ 40º or Fight!40º or Fight!

By the mid-1840s,“Oregon Fever” wasspurred on by thepromise of free land.

By the mid-1840s,“Oregon Fever” wasspurred on by thepromise of free land.

The joint British-U. S.occupation ended in1846.

The joint British-U. S.occupation ended in1846.

The Trail Today

Some Major Trails West

Religion

• Mormon faith

• Joseph Smith

• Brigham Young leads them west (1846)

Mormon Trail

GOLD!GOLD! At Sutter’s Mill, At Sutter’s Mill, 18481848

GOLD!GOLD! At Sutter’s Mill, At Sutter’s Mill, 18481848

John A. Sutter John A. Sutter

California Gold Rush, California Gold Rush, 18491849

California Gold Rush, California Gold Rush, 18491849

49er’s49er’s

The Doomed Donner PartyThe Doomed Donner PartyThe Doomed Donner PartyThe Doomed Donner Party

April, 1846 – April, 1847

April, 1846 – April, 1847