Out West Flashcards
Louisiana Purchase (1803)
Thomas Jefferson is in the white house
Purchases Louisiana from France for 4 cents an acre
Napolean wanted $
Bad for Native Americans
Lewis and Clark
Hired by Jefferson to find out what was in the West
Where are the NA’s? Whats the weather?
Helped by Sacagawea
The Mountain Men
Guys who went out alone and got involved in the fur trade
First people who went out West on their own-permission or mission
The Santa Fe Trail
People believed life would be better West was special and dif Land was cheap and the weather decent Certain trails were tried and true Walked out West-only the very young, old, and sick sat in the wagon
The Alamo
Texas goes from a state of Mexico, to its own country for 12 yrs, to a state of USA
Mexicans invited Americans to come live in Texas (when it was a part of Mexico)
Americans bring thousands
Southerners bring slaves even tho slavery was illegal in Mexico
Americans disregarded everything and made Texas a state of the US
Thousands of Mexicans attacked the American fort forcing them to surrender
Americans were murdered and their bodies burned
The Oregon Trail
Thought life would be better (powerful pull)
Everyone frowning in every picture
No leisure time, no happiness
The Manifest Destiny
America had the philosophy that the West was our right and destiny
Felt we were the best in every way
Thousands agreed
The Donner Party (1846-47)
Trail of the Donner Party Mr. Donner lead the trip and takes people out west Says he has a safer and faster route 7 month, 2000 miles 80 people went, spent the night sleeping under the mountain they had to climb Snowed 8 feet that night They got stuck Spent the winter in the mountains Most died 50-80
The Mexican-American War (1846-48)
Won and got 2/5 of Mexico
Soldier of ours was shot and killed and so we started a fight
Dispute on where the border should be
13 million dollars for the land (so we could feel better about ourselves)
This is the war that Thoreau said was unjust
Because of this war he was thrown in jail (did not pay taxes)
Civil disobedience: breaking a law you think is unjust but you break it nonviolently
1850 America became U.S.A
The Mormons
Controversial religion Had multiple wives Joe smith story Joseph smith lead this religion 46 wives You can't be polygamist in U.S.A Don't drink alcohol, or coffee Had to flee west because they were getting shot out and persecuted for their religion Went to middle of the desert of Utah Brigham Young Second leader of the mormons The California Gold Rush People wanted gold 1849 Panning for gold 1850 California became a state
