Westward Expansion
By: Rayna McNally
Manifest Destiny.
1827 UK and US jointly occupy Oregon
1836 Texas Independence established
1845 Texas annexed
1846 US declares war on Mexico
1848 Mexican cession
1848 Gold discovered in CA.
1849 Gold Rush Starts
1853 Gadsden Purchase
The Texas Revolution.
2. For Texans, the Battle of the Alamo became an enduring symbol of their heroic resistance to oppression and their struggle for independence. On February 23,1836 a Mexican force numbering in the thousands, led by General Antonio Lopez of Santa Anna's began a attack on the fort. Although they were greatly outnumbered, the Alamo's 200 defenders lead by James Bowie and Davy Crockett. The were out for about 13 days before the Mexican invaders had overpowered them.
3. During the Texas War of independence, the Texas militia under Sam Houston launches a surprise attack against the forces of Mexican General Santa Anna along the San Jacinto River (Hints the name of the Battle). Hundreds of these Mexicans were later taken prisioner, including the General Santa Anna himself.
The Mexican-American War
2. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, officially entitled the Treaty of Peace, Friendship, Limits and Settlement between the United States and the Mexican Republic. Signed February 2, 1848
3. From June to July in 1864, a small group of American Settlers in California rebelled against the Mexican government and proclaimed California and independent republic. The republic was short- lived because soon after the Bear Flag was raised, the U.S. military began occupying California, which went on to join the union in 1850. The bear flag became the official state flag in 1911
4. The Gadsden Purchase, or Treaty, was an argument between the United States and Mexico, finalized in 1854, in which the United States agreed to pay Mexico $10 million for a 29,670 square mile portion of Mexico.
The Western Trails.
- The Santa Fe Trail Followed an ancient trading route used by Native Americans. They traded cloth and other manufacturing goods for horses, mules, and other sliver from Mexican traders. Dangerous, but lucrative profits (2,000% profit in few cases); U.S. Army was sent to protect traders from Native Americans.
2. The Oregon Trail
- The Oregon Trail crossed the Rocky Mountains. Northern branch to Oregon Country. It was $600 for a family to travel west, which was extremely expensive- most made $1.50/day. Wagon Trains numbered between ten and a few dozen wagons; the trip was usually 6 months. People mainly used this trail for gold.
3. The California Trail.
- The California Trail went from western Missouri across the Great Plains into the Rocky Mountains to the gold fields of northern California. The length of the trail went from the Missouri River to Sacramento, California was about 1,950 miles. It normally took four to six months to get through the length of the California Trail with covered wagons pulled by Oxen. About 250,000 pioneers, the most of any American emigration trail, used it to reach California. This trail was usually taken for gold and land.
4. The Mormon Trail
- Joseph Smith founded the church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day saints in western New York- became known as Mormons. Their group grew quickly, but were often persecuted for beliefs and practices. They moved to Independence, Nauvoo, Illinois, and Ohio. The Mormon Trail, or the Pioneer Trail is the 1,300 mile route that members of the Church from 1846 to 1868. People used this trail so they could have their religious freedom.