Westward Expansion Flashcards
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Mountain Men and Women
Learned hunting and trapping from local Native American tribes
Led the way for people going to Oregon
Fur trade and trapping
Beavers on verge of endangerment
Fur hats went out of style in Europe
Oregon trail
Pioneers had to cover 2000 miles in 5 months, but there were many dangers. For example, there were flash floods, blistering heat, attacks from hostile Native Americans, and diseases, for example Cholera and measles. Between 1840 and 1860, 50,000 ppl reached Oregon country.
Wagon trains
Wagon Trains: large groups of horse-drawn wagons that carry settlers out West
Oregon Trail: most popular route from Independence, Missouri to Oregon Country
Stephen F. Austin
1821: Stephen Austin receives land grant from newly independent Mexico
Austin creates a U.S. colony within Mexico.
General Sam Houston
Texan Army American General/Politician
General Santa Anna
Mexican army led by General Santa Anna.
New president/dictator of Mexico.
Col. William Travis
Fighter in the last stand of the Alamo
Mexico gives land Grants
Mexico gives land grant because:
Wanted settlers to develop the land (agriculture/irrigation)
Wanted settlers to control/prevent Native American attacks.
Republic of Texas
After the Battle of San Jacinto, Santa Anna is forced to give up Texas, where it becomes its own country for 10 years, although it will have some financial struggles and wants to be a part of the US
Last stand at the Alamo
In San Antonio during February 1836, Texans fortified themselves in The Alamo, which was a military fort/church.
150 Texans vs. 2,000 Mexican troops
150 Texans vs. 2,000 Mexican troops
Americans led by famous fighters William Travis, James Bowie, and Davy Crockett.
No Texan reinforcements are available.
For 12 days, Mexican Army lays siege,
then, on March 6th, the Mexican army storms the Alamo. The Texans fight valiantly, but nearly all are killed. “Remember The Alamo!” - Becomes a rallying cry for Texans.
Hundreds of American volunteers heed the call to help General Houston avenge those that died in the Alamo.
Battle of San Jacinto
April 1836
San Jacinto River (300 mi. from San Antonio)
Outcome: Major victory - Texans killed 630 Mexican troops & captured 700 in only 18 minutes!
Force General Santa Anna to give them Texas
The Annexation of Texas
Texas Annexation of 1845 = Texas now a US state.
Texans afraid of Mexican attacks and have weak economy.
President James K. Polk (manifest destiny supporter) finally annexes Texas.
General Zachary Taylor
Because Mexico stood in the way of Manifest destiny… Jan. 1846: President Polk orders Gen. Zachary Taylor to cross the Rio Grande (river separating Texas & Mexico)
Mexican troops clash with Americans
Soldiers killed on both sides
Polk declares war!
Border Dispute
Border Dispute = Spark for War
Jan. 1846: President Polk orders Gen. Zachary Taylor to cross the Rio Grande (river separating Texas & Mexico)
Mexican troops clash with Americans
Soldiers killed on both sides
Polk declares war!
Battle of Chapultepec
Sept. 1847: Battle of Chapultepec
Mexican troops make heroic “last stand” against U.S. Army
Castle just outside Mexico City.
Mexican Army surrenders
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
Officially ended the Mexican-American War
Mexican Cession
Mexico forced to cede (or give up) to US:
California
Northern New Mexico/Arizona
Nevada
Colorado
Wyoming
Utah
The Gadsden Purchase
1853: Gadsden Purchase
America gained the rest of Arizona
Also gained the rest of New Mexico
49th Parallel
James k Polk settled the Oregon Boundary
President James K. Polk
Annexed Texas and California, set the Oregon Bouandary. Big believer in Manifest destiny. Declared war on Mexico. Signed treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
Sutters Mill
1848 -1849: Gold discovered near Sacramento, CA
Small town john Sutter started
John Sutter discovers gold
News reaches San Francisco → Spreads to rest of U.S. → People rush to California!
Forty Niners
Inexperienced migrants / miners who came to CA to make a fortune
San Fransisco
Key port on Pacific coast
“Gold Rush” : 80,000 people arrive in San Francisco
Gold rush
“Gold Rush” : 80,000 people arrive in San Francisco
“49ers”: Inexperienced migrants / miners who came to CA to make a fortune
Prospectors dug for gold in mountains and hills and panned for gold in rivers.
Most did NOT find gold & lost all of their money
Many stayed in CA to start jobs or farm
Vigilantes
Because there was no government, crime was common
or self-appointed law enforcers took matters into their own hands
