Settlers Move West
During the Manifest Destiny Americans thought it was there duty to move west and spread democracy as well as showing the native americans how to become civilized. The U.S wanted a perfect country.
Oregan Trail
By 1845, thousands of people travelled the dangerous Oregon Trail. There were families in 10 to 20 wagons. Traveling time took about six months, going at a rate of about 12 to 15 miles a day. The journey consisted mostly of men, but the women who did go changed their traditional roles. The women who used to cook, take care of children, and sew would find themselves doing things like repairing the wheels of the wagons, tending animals, and lifting wagon covers.
Sioux/Native Americans/Great Plains
Election - Van Buren
Election - Harrison /Tyler
Aroostook War/ Webster-Ashburton Treaty
The Aroostook War was the only war declared by a state. This war was between Maine & Canada. The expulsion of canadian lumber jack came into Maine and started cutting down trees but they didn't know they were in Maine because they didn't know of the country border. To settle it they came up with the Webster-Ashburton Treaty. At the end we gained more land than we lost.
Election 1844 - Polk
In 1844, James K. Polk used "Fifty-four forty or fight!" as his campaign slogan. That would make the American boarder go up to Russian Alaska. When he took office, he let go of his demand for Oregon by negotiating with Britain. America's boundary would now be at the 49th parallel.
Texas Independence In 1821 Moses Austin got permission from Spain to start a colony in Texas, the only thing the officials asked was that the settlers had to learn spanish, become mexican citizens, and join the Catholic Church.
Texas soon had 25,000 americans living in it. Over time tensions between the people and the mexican government developed. The citizens didn't want to learn spanish and the wanted to keep their slaves. Austin went to mexico city to negotiate but got sent to jail. Santa Anna gave more power to the government. Soon Texas revolted and declared Texas as an independent country. Santa Anna Marched north with troops to fight against The Alamo and defeated The Alamo. They killed everyone that survived, - "No Mercy". Later Santa Anna is at war with Texans and Texans Surrender. They Are captured as prisoners of war and are killed then they are stacked on top of each other then burned. At San Jancito River Sam Houston makes a trap for Santa Anna as revenge, Shouting "Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!" The Texans win this one and make Santa Anna sign two treaties to be free that agreed to independence for Texas and making the the Rio Grande as it's border with Mexico. When Santa Anna returned to Mexico City he ignored the treaties. Texas became the Lone Star Republic because of its single star on the flag. Most Americans and Texans wanted texas to become part of the United States. In 1845 Texas entered the U.S as a slave state. |
Mexican- American War Mexico was still upset over the lose of Texas. They kept on disagreeing on where the border was going to be located. The United States Recognized the Rio Grande as the border and Mexico would push it more north. Polk sent a diplomat to determine the border and he also tried buying California and New Mexico but the Mexican government denied the negotiation.
Knowing the Mexican Arny would attack Polk sent in soldiers to the Rio Grande because that was considered mexico's territory. Congress declared war 2 days later. Mexico fought and had little success. The US quickly took over northern Mexico, New Mexico, and California. The war ended in 1847 when the americans captured Mexico City. |