Pushing Westward

Question 1

Westward Expansion

Answer 1

1840’s U.S fills out continental boundaries
Over a million square miles added to U.S.
Manifest Destiny
-From the Atlantic to the Pacific
-Need to run throughout the country

Question 2

Texas

Answer 2

1821 Mexico gains its independence
Look to start friendly relations and active trade
Very few towns and cities
Want to populate and begin advancing the land
Begin selling land to the U.S. in the hopes that they will settle and develop the land and become Mexican citizens
Stephen F. Austin Land Company major proponent
by 1830 7,000 americans compared to 1,000 mexicans in Texas
1826 Freedonia revolt
-Americans that want independence from mexico
-Mexico shuts down land sales but americans continue to move across the border
1833 Mexican government gives up
1835 30,000 americans in Texas

Question 3

War for Independence

Answer 3

Texans declare independence
Mexican President Santa Ana forms an army and begins moving north through Texas
Alamo
-Texans turn old church into a fort
-Santa Ana arrives and kills everyone
Santa Ana eventually captured and forced to sign treaty making Texas and independent republic
Sam Houston becomes president but prefers to be part of the U.S.
U.S. is weary of accepting Texas because it is entrenched with slavery

Question 4

Oregon Country

Answer 4

Originally in 1800’s 4 countries claimed the territory as their own
-England, US, Spain, Russia
1818 US and England sign joint occupation treaty to share the land
1840’s americans begin settling and farming
Oregon trail opens and americans flood oregon and washington areas

Question 5

1844 Election

Answer 5

Democrats nominate James Polk
Whigs - Henry Clay
Westward expansion is important part
Polk wins
-Texas official border is undefined
-Polk wants Texas and west to the Pacific but Mexico won’t sell
-Polk sends troops into disputed territory and Mexico does too
-Congress declares war in 1846
-Send troops westward and claim lands to California to cut off mexico from northern lands
-Zachary Taylor is General moving west
-Winfield Scott takes an army by sea to Mexico City and capture it

Question 6

Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo 1848

Answer 6

Mexico acknowledges defeat
US gets Texas and disputed territory
US purchases seized lands for 15 million

Question 7

Wilmot Proviso

Answer 7

Concern over new lands becoming slave states
Congress needs to appropriate the 15 million to purchase the lands
Wilmot states that new land cannot be slave states
Passes in house of representatives but fails in the senate