Lesson 7: Manifest Destiny in California and Southwest

Question 1

Brigham Young Definition

Answer 1

Brigham Young (1801–1877) supervised the Mormon migration to Utah beginning in the 1840s. He was the first governor of Utah when it became a U.S. territory.

Question 2

Cede Definition

Answer 2

to surrender

Question 3

Chapultepec

Answer 3

the former fort outside of Mexico City; site of an 1847 battle between the United States and Mexico

Question 4

Forty-niners Definition

Answer 4

people who went to California during the gold rush of 1849

Question 5

Gadsden Purchase Definition

Answer 5

an agreement between Mexico and the United States that was finalized in 1854. As part of the Gadsden Purchase (or agreement), the United States agreed to pay Mexico $10 million for a 29,670 square mile portion of Mexico that later became part of Arizona and New Mexico.

Question 6

James Polk Definition

Answer 6

He was the eleventh President of the United States, serving from 1845–1849. He led the expansion of the United States to the Pacific Coast through the acquisition of the Oregon Territory and the Mexican Cession.

Question 7

Joseph Smith Definition

Answer 7

the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or the Mormons, in New York in 1830. He was killed by a mob in Illinois in 1844.

Question 8

Junípero Serra Definition

Answer 8

a Spanish friar and missionary who founded a chain of missions in present-day California from 1769–1782.

Question 9

Manifest Destiny Definition

Answer 9

belief that it was God’s plan for America to expand from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean

Question 10

Mexican Cession Definition

Answer 10

the region in the southwest United States, including modern-day New Mexico, that Mexico surrendered in the Mexican-American War

Question 11

Mission Definition

Answer 11

a settlement run by Catholic priests and friars whose goal was to convert Indians to Christianity

Question 12

Santa Fe Trail Definition

Answer 12

a trade route through North America that connected Santa Fe, New Mexico, to Franklin, Missouri, from the early 1800s until the introduction of the railroad in the region in the late 1800s

Question 13

Self-sufficient Definition

Answer 13

Ability to rely on oneself for most of what one needs.

Question 14

Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo Definition

Answer 14

an 1848 treaty in which Mexico gave up California and New Mexico Territory to the United States for $15 million

Question 15

Vaquero Definition

Answer 15

a Spanish or Mexican cowhand

Question 16

What were the physical features of New Mexico?

Answer 16

The physical features of this region vary depending on location. Much of this region is hot and dry desert. There are also forested mountains. In some areas, thick grasses grow. Before the Spanish arrived, the Zuñi (ZOON yee) and other Indians farmed here using irrigation, while other Native Americans lived mainly by hunting and gathering.

Question 17

What did Spanish Explorer Juan de Onate do? What became the capital of New Mexico?

Answer 17

The Spanish explorer Juan de Oñate (ohn YAH tay) claimed the region for Spain in 1598. In the early 1600s, the Spanish built Santa Fe and made it the capital of the territory. By trading horses, fur, and wool, Santa Fe grew into a busy trading town.

Question 18

When were Americans allowed to settle in New Mexico? What is the Santa Fe Trail?

Answer 18

Some Americans were eager to settle in New Mexico, which was thinly populated but had good physical features, including many natural resources. Spain, however, would not let Americans settle in Santa Fe or anywhere else in the territory. Only after Mexico became independent in 1821 were Americans welcome there. William Becknell, a merchant and adventurer, was the first American to head for Santa Fe. In 1821, he led some traders from Franklin, Missouri, across the plains to the New Mexico town. Other Americans soon followed Becknell’s route, which became known as the Santa Fe Trail.

Question 19

What was the influence of Captain Gaspar de Portola and Father Junipero Serra? How many mission did Father Serra create in California?

Answer 19

California, too, was ruled first by Spain and then by Mexico. In 1769, Captain Gaspar de Portolá led an expedition up the Pacific coast. With him was Father Junípero Serra (hoo NEE peh roh SEHR rah). Father Serra built his first mission at San Diego. Later he and other missionaries set up a string of 21 missions long the California coast. Each mission complex included a church and the surrounding land. Each became self-sufficient, producing enough for its own needs. Spanish soldiers built forts nearby.

Question 20

What was Mission life for California Indians_

Answer 20

Before the Spanish arrived, California Indians lived in small, scattered groups. As a result, they had little success resisting the Spanish soldiers who made them work on mission lands. Native Americans were forced to herd sheep and cattle and raise crops for the missions. They were also forced to live at the missions and practice the Roman Catholic faith. Many missionaries were dedicated to converting the Indians to Christianity. However, mission life was harsh. Indians were forced to give up their culture. Families were often separated, and people faced great distress. Thousands of Native Americans died from overwork and disease.

Question 21

What did the newly independent Mexico do to speed up the growth of California’s economy? What are Vaqueros?

Answer 21

In the 1820s, newly independent Mexico decided that California’s economy was growing too slowly. Hoping to speed up growth, the government took land from the missions and gave it to wealthy individuals. These new landowners set up huge cattle ranches in California.
Native Americans did most of the work on the ranches as well, tending cattle and other animals. A new culture developed on the ranches—the culture of the vaqueros. Vaqueros were the Indian and Mexican cowhands who worked on the ranches. They were excellent riders and ropers, and their traditions strongly influenced later cowhands.

Question 22

What were reasons for westward movement? How many Americans lived in California in the mid-1840s?

Answer 22

In the mid-1840s, only about 700 people from the United States lived in California. Every year, however, more Americans began moving west. There were many economic, social, and political causes for this westward expansion. On several occasions, the United States government offered to buy California from Mexico. Some officials were eager to gain control of the ports at San Francisco and San Diego. Soon westward expansion became a major priority for the nation.

Question 23

How did Manifest Destiny contribute to the desire to purchase California? What were negatives of the movemnet?

Answer 23

There was another reason for wanting to purchase California. Many Americans saw their nation and its democratic government as the best in the world.
In the 1840s, a newspaper created the term Manifest Destiny to mean that the United States had the right to spread across the continent. Manifest means clear or obvious. Destiny means something that is fated to happen. The social roots of Manifest Destiny lay in the belief that Americans had the right and the duty of westward expansion to spread their culture across the continent all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Americans who believed in Manifest Destiny thought that westward expansion would also open new opportunities for the United States economy. To many Americans, the fertile farmland and natural resources in the West were prime opportunities for economic growth. Manifest Destiny and westward expansion had some negative effects, however. Many white Americans believed that they were superior to Native Americans and Mexicans. They used this belief to justify taking lands belonging to people whom they considered inferior.

Question 24

What role did Manifest Destiny play in the election of 1844?

Answer 24

The political roots of Manifest Destiny and westward expansion took hold during the election of 1844. The Whigs nominated the well-known national leader Henry Clay for President. Clay had opposed the annexation of Texas. The Democrats choose James Polk, a little-known candidate from Tennessee who wanted to add Texas and Oregon Country to the Union. On Election Day, Americans showed their support for westward expansion by electing Polk president. He took office in March 1845 on a wave of support for expansion. Acting on his campaign promise, he took steps to gain control of Oregon Country. That move brought the possibility of war with Britain.

Question 25

How did President James Polk obtain the Oregon Territory from Britain? Which states were made from the land?

Answer 25

Polk did not really want to fight Britain, however. Instead, in 1846, he agreed to a compromise. Oregon Country was divided at latitude 49°N. Britain got the lands north of the line, and the United States got the lands south of the line. The United States named its lands the Oregon Territory. Later the states of Oregon (1859), Washington (1889), and Idaho (1890) were carved out of the Oregon Territory.

Question 26

How did America obtain Texas? What trick did Texas play on America?

Answer 26

Texas proved a more difficult problem. The United States at first had refused to annex Texas. Then, in 1844, Texan president Sam Houston signed a treaty of annexation with the United States. However, the Senate again refused to ratify the treaty. Senators feared that annexing Texas would cause a war with Mexico. Meanwhile, in a last effort to prevent annexation by the United States, Mexico offered to accept the independence of Texas if Texas rejected annexation. Sam Houston and other Texans who supported annexation would not give up, however. To pressure the United States to annex Texas, he pretended that Texas might ally itself with Britain. The trick worked. Americans did not want Britain to gain a foothold in Texas. In 1845, Congress passed a joint resolution admitting Texas to the Union. This set the stage for conflict with Mexico.

Question 27

What were the conflicting views of America and Mexico?

Answer 27

The annexation of Texas outraged Mexicans. They had not accepted Texan independence, much less annexation. They also worried that Americans might encourage rebellions in California and New Mexico as they had in Texas. At the same time, Americans resented Mexico. They were annoyed when Mexico rejected President Polk’s offer of $30 million to buy California and New Mexico. Many Americans felt that Mexico stood in the way of the Manifest Destiny of the United States.

Question 28

How did the Mexican-American War begin?

Answer 28

A border dispute finally caused a war. Both the United States and Mexico claimed control over the land between the Rio Grande and the Nueces (noo AY says) River. In January 1846, Polk ordered General Zachary Taylor to set up posts in the disputed area. Polk knew that the move might lead to war. In April 1846, Mexican troops crossed the Rio Grande and clashed with the Americans. At Polk’s urging, Congress declared war on Mexico.

Question 29

What were the different views on the Mexican-American War in America?

Answer 29

Americans were divided over the conflict. Many people in the South and West were eager to fight, hoping to win new lands. Some northerners, however, opposed the war. They saw it as a southern plot to add slave states to the Union. Still, the war was generally popular. When the army called for volunteers, thousands of young recruits flocked to the cause.

Question 30

What was President Polk’s strategy to win the Mexican-American War quickly?

Answer 30

During the Mexican-American War, the United States attacked on several fronts at once. President Polk hoped that this strategy would win a quick victory.

Question 31

What did General Taylor do in Northern Mexico? What did a second army under General Winfield Scott do at the Mexican port of Veracruz? What did a third army under General Stephen Kearny do at Santa Fe?

Answer 31

General Taylor crossed the Rio Grande into northern Mexico. In February 1847, he met Mexican General Santa Anna at the Battle of Buena Vista. The Americans were outnumbered more than two to one, but they were better armed and better led. After fierce fighting and intense artillery fire, they forced Santa Anna to retreat. Meanwhile, a second army under General Winfield Scott landed at the Mexican port of Veracruz. After a long battle, the Americans took the city. Scott then headed toward Mexico City, the capital. A third army, led by General Stephen Kearny, captured Santa Fe without firing a shot. Kearny then hurried on to San Diego. After several battles, he won control of southern California early in 1847.

Question 32

What did Americans in Northern California do even before hearing of the war?

Answer 32

Even before hearing of the war, Americans in northern California had begun a revolt against Mexican rule. The rebels declared California an independent republic on June 14, 1846. They nicknamed their new nation the Bear Flag Republic. Led by a young American officer, John C. Frémont (FREE mont), rebel forces then drove the Mexican troops out of northern California.

Question 33

How much of Mexican land did the United States control by 1847? What happened at the Battle of Cerro Gordo? What happened at Chapultepec?

Answer 33

By 1847, the United States controlled all of New Mexico and California. General Scott, meanwhile, pushed closer to Mexico City. Blocking his way was the Mexican army in a well-protected position. At the Battle of Cerro Gordo, American troops went around this position to surprise the Mexican army. The Mexican army suffered heavy losses as it was forced to retreat. At the edge of Mexico City, Scott’s forces faced one last obstacle. Teenage Mexican cadets, or soldiers in training, made a heroic stand at Chapultepec (chah POOL tuh pehk), a fort just outside the capital. Today, Mexicans honor those young cadets as heroes. At the battle’s end, however, the capital city was overtaken by the American forces When the American army captured Mexico City, the war was essentially over. Scott’s Mexico City campaign remains one of the most successful in U.S. military history. The war was a crushing defeat for Mexico. An outnumbered American army had caused significantly more casualties than it had suffered.

Question 34

What did the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo state?

Answer 34

The Mexican government moved to make peace with the United States. In 1848, Mexico signed the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo (gwah duh LOOP ay hih DAHL goh). Mexico suffered the effects of losing the war. It had to cede, or give up, all of California and New Mexico to the United States. These lands were called the Mexican Cession. In return, the United States paid Mexico $15 million and agreed to respect the rights of Spanish-speaking people in the Mexican Cession.

Question 35

How was Manifest Destiny affected by the Gadsden Purchase?

Answer 35

The war impacted the United States positively due to this new land. However, even more land was acquired later. In 1853, the United States paid Mexico an additional $10 million for a strip of land in present-day Arizona and New Mexico. The Americans needed the land to complete a railroad. The land was called the Gadsden Purchase. With the Gadsden Purchase, many Americans felt that their dream of Manifest Destiny had been fulfilled.

Question 36

How did the Mexican-American War influence westward movement? What was the largest group of settlers to move into the Mexican Cession?

Answer 36

Winning the Mexican-American War had positive effects on westward expansion of the United States, which ushered in a whole new era of growth. New Mexico Territory, now the southwestern part of the United States, came to be known as the Southwest. After 1848, English-speaking settlers flocked to the Southwest. As the population of the country increased and affordable land in the east became scarce, more people decided to move. Americans migrated west for many reasons, from religious freedom to economic opportunities. The largest group of settlers to move into the Mexican Cession was the Mormons.

Question 37

Which Church did Mormons belong to? How established this Church?

Answer 37

Mormons belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The church was founded by Joseph Smith in 1830.

Question 38

How did Joseph Smith’s teachings cause conflict? Who was chosen as the new leader of the Mormons?

Answer 38

Joseph Smith, a farmer in upstate New York, attracted many followers to his new faith. Smith was an energetic, popular man. Some of his teachings were different from other Christian churches’ teachings. These new teachings angered many non-Mormons, who forced the Mormons to leave New York. The Mormons moved west and, in the 1840s, built a community called Nauvoo on the banks of the Mississippi River in Illinois. Once again, the Mormons and their neighbors clashed. In 1844, an angry mob killed Joseph Smith, and Brigham Young was chosen as their new leader.

Question 39

Why did Young and the Mormons move west? What city did they establish and where did they establish it? When was Utah introduced as a state?

Answer 39

Young sought a place where Mormons would be safe from persecution. He had read about a valley between the Rocky Mountains and the Great Salt Lake in Utah. He hoped that this isolated valley might make a good home for the Mormons. In 1847, Young led an advance party into the valley of the Great Salt Lake. Soon, waves of Mormon families followed. For several years, Mormon wagon trains struggled across the plains and over the Rockies to Utah. Once there, they had to learn how to survive in the desert climate. They transformed their environment by creating farmland in the desert. Young planned an irrigation system to bring water to farms. He also drew up plans for a large city, called Salt Lake City, to be built in the desert. The Mormon settlements in Utah grew quickly. Congress recognized Brigham Young as governor of the Utah Territory in 1850. Eventually, in 1896, Utah became a state.

Question 40

When did the Gold Rush to California begin?

Answer 40

While the Mormons were making the long trek to what would become Utah, thousands of other Americans were racing even farther west to California. The great attraction there was gold, which offered settlers a chance to get rich. In 1848, John Sutter was having a sawmill built on the American River, north of Sacramento, California. Sutter had hired James Marshall to supervise the job. Early on January 24, Marshall set out to inspect a ditch his crew was digging. He later recalled the events of that day:

As I was taking my usual walk, … my eye was caught with the glimpse of something shining in the bottom of the ditch…. I reached my hand down and picked it up; it made my heart thump, for I was certain it was gold.

—James Marshall, quote in Hutchings’ Illustrated California Magazine, 1857–1858

Question 41

What were the results of the Gold Rush?

Answer 41

At first, Sutter tried to keep the news a secret. But within a few days, news reached San Francisco that gold had been found at Sutter’s Mill. Carpenters threw down their saws. Bakers left bread in their ovens. Schools emptied as teachers and students joined the rush to the gold fields. The news spread across the United States and around the globe. Thousands of Americans caught “gold fever.” People from Europe, China, Australia, and South America joined in the great gold rush. More than 80,000 people made the long journey to California in 1849. They became know as forty-niners a nickname created in reference to the year they arrived. Very few miners actually struck it rich. Many went broke trying to make their fortunes in the gold fields. Still, although many miners left the gold fields, they stayed in California. In time, they found jobs or took up farming.

Question 42

How did the Gold Rush change Californian cities? How did it change Californian law? When was California admitted into the Union?

Answer 42

The gold rush brought big changes to California. Almost overnight, San Francisco grew from a sleepy town to a bustling city, as newcomers poured in from all over the world. In the gold fields, towns sprang up just as quickly. Greed led some forty-niners into crime. Murders and robberies plagued many mining camps. Californians soon realized that they needed a strong government to stop such lawlessness. In November of 1849, they drafted a state constitution. They then asked to be admitted to the Union. Their request caused an uproar in the United States. Many people wanted to know whether the new state would allow slavery. After a heated debate, California was admitted to the Union in 1850 as a free state. This was not the end of the issue.

Question 43

How did the Gold Rush influence Cultural Diffusion?

Answer 43

Westward expansion had many effects on the cultures and peoples of California. The gold rush brought diverse groups of people to the West.

Question 44

Which groups travelled to California? Which groups suffered from the movement west into California? Which groups benefitted?

Answer 44

Most of the newcomers were white Americans from the East. However, California’s mining camps included African Americans who had run away from slavery in the South, free African Americans, and Native Americans. There were also people from Hawaii, China, Peru, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, and Australia. Not all groups fared well, however. Before the gold rush, California’s population had included large numbers of Mexicans. Mexican Americans faced serious hardships. During the 1850s and 1860s, many lost land that their families had owned for generations. Native Americans fared even worse. Many were driven off the lands where they lived. Without any means to earn a living, large numbers died of starvation or disease brought by the newcomers. Still others were murdered. In 1850, about 100,000 Indians lived in California. By the 1870s, the state’s Indian population had dropped to 17,000. The physical features of California attracted the first settlers. Lured by the tales of a “mountain of gold,” thousands of Chinese immigrants sailed across the Pacific to California. At first, the Chinese were welcomed because California needed workers. When the Chinese staked claims in the gold fields, however, white miners often drove them off. Despite the harsh treatment, many Chinese Americans stayed in California. Their contributions helped the state to grow. They shaped the environment by draining swamplands and digging irrigation systems to turn dry land into fertile farmland. Free blacks, too, joined the gold rush in California, hoping to strike it rich. Some became well-off by running businesses that contributed to the economy. In fact, by the 1850s, California had the richest African American population of any state. Yet, African Americans faced discrimination and were denied certain rights.

Question 45

What was the influence of the settlement of diverse cultures?

Answer 45

In spite of these problems, California continued to grow and prosper. Settlers from other states and immigrants from all over the world kept arriving. With their diverse backgrounds, the newcomers added to California’s unique blend of cultures. That is, the mix of people added to the identity of California as a place. The economy grew as commerce and mining expanded, and farms grew to feed the settlers. Cities and roads grew to accommodate the increase in people and goods. By 1860, the state’s population was about 300,000.