Westward Expansion
Written by Caleb Gates
Manifest Destiny Painting
In this painting everybody is moving west in the United States. It seems as if the Native Americans, Bison, and most of the wildlife, are getting pushed west by the settlers. The settlers are building rail road tracks, bringing wagons, farming, digging for gold, and telegraph lines to start new settlements. The girl floating in the painting in my opinion is like a guardian angel. She is making sure the settlers are safe on there expansion to the west.
1846 US declares war on Mexico
U.S. thought they owned all the land until the Rio Grande. Mexico thought they owned all the land until the Nueces River. Mexico shot and killed about a dozen Americans who were on there land. A dispute started and the War came to be.
1848 Mexican cession
The U.S. bought 15 million dollars worth of land in 1848. The land would now make up California, Nevada, and Utah, also parts of Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Wyoming.
1848 Gold discovered in CA.
On January 24th, 1848 in Coloma. James W. Marshall spotted the gold while building a sawmill.
1827 UK and US jointly occupy Oregon
The U.S. and U.K. peacefully agree to occupy Oregon. They both peacefully live together and no land can be claimed by either side for 10 years.
1836 Texas Independence Established
After many battles Texas finally established independence after the battle along the San Jacinto River.
1845 Texas Annexed
in 1845 Texas was was admitted to the union as the 28th state.
1849 Gold Rush starts
Word got out quickly that gold was discovered in Califronia. People rushed across the country to try there luck with the gold. People would go around South America just to get to the gold filled rivers.
1853 Gadsden purchase
The United States payed Mexico 29,670 square miles of land for 10 million dollars. The land later becomes part of Arizona and New Mexico.
Trails West Map
Oregon Trail: Settlers came to claim land.
Mormon Trail: Mormons used this trail to make a colony.
Santa Fe Trail: Traders used this trail to trade goods.
California Trail: Miners and settlers came and used this trail for land and gold.
Texas Revolution
Settlers moved to Texas because it was new. They heard many great stories about the west and Texas. Then when settlers heard they were trying to start a colony or town in Texas they moved down there. The battle of the Alamo was a long dreadful battle. As the Texans held out for two weeks before finally Santa Anna (Mexico's leader) killed all the Texans. Later Santa Anna killed 350 prisoners. The battle of San Jacinto was a great battle for the Texans. Sam Houston leaded an army and surrounded Santa Anna's camp and defeated them quickly. To keep battling the Texans shouted "Remember the Alamo" which pushed them to press on. They ended up catching Santa Anna and forced him to sign a treaty which granted Texas Independence.
Mexican-American War
There was confusion between Mexico and America on were the border was. America though they owned everything to the Rio Grande and Mexico thought they owned everything to the Nueces River. The Bear Flag Revolt was in July of 1846 a small group of American settlers rebelled against the Mexican Government and made California and independent government. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed on February 2. 1848. It entitled the treaty of peace, limits, and settlement between the U.S. and Mexico. The Gadsden Purchase was and agreement between U.S. and Mexico which was finalized in 1854. The United States agreed to pay 10 million dollars to Mexico 29,670.
Gold Rush Preformance Writing
March 21, 1852
Dear, Family
Sincerely, Dave