The American Nation

Chapter 13

Westward Expansion, 1820–1860

Copyright © 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.

The American Nation Chapter 13: Westward Expansion, 1820–1860

Section 1:

Oregon Country

Section 2:

The Republic of Texas

Section 3:

California and the Southwest

Section 4:

The Mexican War

Section 5:

Americas Rush West

Copyright © 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.

Oregon Country Chapter 13, Section 1

• Why were settlers and trappers attracted to Oregon and the Far West? • How did mountain men help explore lands in the Far West? • What role did missionaries play in the settlement of Oregon? • What hardships did settlers face on wagon trains to the West?

Settlers and Trappers Were Attracted to Oregon Chapter 13, Section 1

Oregon Country—a huge region west of the Rocky Mountains that included present-day Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and parts of Wyoming, Montana, and western Canada. • Good farmland along the Pacific coast attracted farmers. • Fertile soil • Mild temperatures year round • Plentiful rainfall • Forests further inland and in the Rocky Mountains attracted fur trappers. • Beavers and other fur-bearing animals At first, four countries claimed Oregon—United States, Great Britain, Spain, and Russia. Later, Spain and Russia dropped their claims.

Settlers and Trappers Were Attracted to Oregon Chapter 13, Section 1

Mountain Men in the Far West Chapter 13, Section 1

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The China trade: New England merchants stopped along the Oregon coast to buy furs to sell in China. The mountain men: These rugged individualists—people who follow their own independent course in life—led dangerous lives. They faced long, cold winters, wild animals, and hunger. Often they learned trapping and hunting skills from Indians. The fur trade: During fall and spring, mountain men tended their traps. Then in July, many mountain men headed for a rendezvous—a French word meaning ―get-together‖—at a place chosen the year before. There they met with traders, who bought the furs. Famous mountain men: In their search for furs, mountain men explored parts of the West, then showed settlers the way. Jedediah Smith, Manuel Lisa, and James Beckwourth were some well-known mountain men.

Missionaries in Oregon Chapter 13, Section 1

• The first white Americans to settle permanently in Oregon Country were missionaries, including Marcus and Narcissa Whitman. • The Whitmans built a mission near the Columbia River. They worked with the Cayuse Indians. Soon other missionaries and settlers joined them. • Missionaries attracted more settlers when they sent glowing reports about Oregon to friends and family in the East. • Some settlers carried diseases that struck the Indians. A measles outbreak killed many Cayuses. • Indians, angry over the spread of disease attacked the Whitman’s mission and killed the Whitmans and 12 others.

Life On the Oregon Trail Chapter 13, Section 1

Beginning in 1843, wagon trains left an area near Independence, Missouri, every spring and followed trails 2,000 miles west to Oregon. The route became known as the Oregon Trail. • People met there and formed themselves into wagon trains. • Each group elected leaders. • On the trail, people awoke at dawn. Everyone had a job to do. • Often people discarded belongings along the way to lighten their wagons. • Wagon trains faced many dangers—rain-swollen rivers in the spring, blistering heat in the summer, early snows in the fall. The biggest threat was sickness. • Pioneers often traded with Native Americans for food.

Section 1 Assessment Chapter 13, Section 1

The mountain men of the West were known for trapping furs and also for a) crossing the Pacific to sell their furs in China. b) establishing missions among the Native Americans of the Oregon Country. c) making beaver hats. d) exploring the land and showing settlers the way west. The biggest danger pioneers on the Oregon Trail faced was a) Indians. b) illness. c) wheat taller than a man. d) not having enough gear.

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Section 1 Assessment Chapter 13, Section 1

The mountain men of the West were known for trapping furs and also for a) crossing the Pacific to sell their furs in China. b) establishing missions among the Native Americans of the Oregon Country. c) making beaver hats. d) exploring the land and showing settlers the way west. The biggest danger pioneers on the Oregon Trail faced was a) Indians. b) illness. c) wheat taller than a man. d) not having enough gear.

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The Republic of Texas Chapter 13, Section 2

• Why did American settlers in Texas come into conflict with Mexico? • How did the siege of the Alamo become a rallying cry for Texans? • How did Texas become an independent nation? • What challenges did the Lone Star Republic face?

Americans in Texas Come Into Conflict With Mexico Chapter 13, Section 2

1821

• Spain granted an American, Moses Austin, the right to set up a colony in Texas. • Mexico gained independence from Spain. • Moses Austin’s son Stephen obtained Mexico’s permission to carry out his father’s grant. • Austin gathered about 300 families, who began settling in Texas. These settlers agreed to become Mexican citizens and worship in the Roman Catholic Church.

1830

• About 20,000 Americans were living in Texas. By this time, few kept the agreement with Mexico. Most felt little loyalty to Mexico. Most were Protestant. • Mexico barred any more American settlers. It was feared that Americans would try to make Texas a part of the United States. The Mexican government began to enforce the old law that required Texans to worship in the Catholic Church as well as laws banning slavery.

Americans in Texas Come Into Conflict With Mexico Chapter 13, Section 2

1833

General Antonio López de Santa Anna came to power in Mexico. Two years later he became dictator, a ruler with absolute power and authority. Americans in Texas felt that Santa Anna would drive them from Mexico and that they must do something.

1835

Americans in Mexico had the support of many Tejanos, Mexicans who lived in Texas. The Tejanos wanted Santa Anna out of power. Texans in the town of Gonzales clashed with Mexican troops, forcing the Mexicans to withdraw. Two months later, Texans occupied San Antonio. Santa Anna marched north with a large army.

1836

A group of Texans declared independence for the Republic of Texas and made Sam Houston commander of the army.

Americans in Texas Come Into Conflict With Mexico Chapter 13, Section 2

The Siege of the Alamo Chapter 13, Section 2

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By the time Santa Anna reached San Antonio with 6,000 troops, about 150 Texans had taken up positions in an old Spanish mission called the Alamo. The Texans had little ammunition, food, water, or medicine. On February 23, 1836, Mexican troops began a siege—enemy forces try to capture a position by surrounding and bombarding it. The American commander, William Travis, sent a message asking for aid. He sent scouts to find volunteers and food. About 40 men joined the fighters in the Alamo. The siege continued for 12 days. Finally, on March 6, a Mexican cannon shattered the mission walls. Thousands of Mexican soldiers poured over the walls, shouting ―Viva Santa Anna!‖ About 180 Texans and almost 1,500 Mexicans lay dead. The fall of the Alamo ignited cries for revenge. ―Remember the Alamo!‖ became a rallying cry as Texans fought for independence.

Texan Independence Chapter 13, Section 2

• A few weeks after the Alamo, Mexican troops killed several hundred Texas soldiers after they had surrendered at Goliad. This action made Texans furious. • Sam Houston worked to turn the volunteers into an effective army. • On April 21, 1836, Texans surprised Santa Anna and his army near the San Jacinto River. In the Battle of San Jacinto, the outnumbered Texans defeated the Mexicans. The next day, the Texans captured Santa Anna and forced him to sign a treaty granting Texas independence. • Texans nicknamed their new nation the Lone Star Republic. They wrote a constitution modeled after the United States Constitution. Sam Houston was elected president of the Republic of Texas.

Texan Independence Chapter 13, Section 2

The Lone Star Republic Faced Challenges Chapter 13, Section 2

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The government of Mexico refused to accept the treaty Santa Anna had signed. For Mexicans, Texas was still part of their country. Texas was nearly bankrupt. Comanches and other Indian groups threatened to attack Texan communities. To face these challenges, most Texans thought Texas should become part of the United States. In the United States, people were divided over whether to annex, or add on, Texas. White southerners generally favored the idea. Antislavery northerners opposed it. Andrew Jackson thought annexation would cause war with Mexico; therefore, Congress refused to annex Texas.

Section 2 Assessment Chapter 13, Section 2

One situation that led Texans to rebel against Mexico was that a) Santa Anna had declared himself dictator of Mexico. b) Mexico invited too many Americans to settle in Texas. c) Mexico allowed German and Swiss settlers to move in. d) they let the Alamo’s walls crumble from disuse. When Texas became an independent nation, one problem it faced was that a) it attracted new settlers. b) most Texans opposed slavery. c) it was nearly bankrupt. d) there was no one to act as president.

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Section 2 Assessment Chapter 13, Section 2

One situation that led Texans to rebel against Mexico was that a) Santa Anna had declared himself dictator of Mexico. b) Mexico invited too many Americans to settle in Texas. c) Mexico allowed German and Swiss settlers to move in. d) they let the Alamo’s walls crumble from disuse. When Texas became an independent nation, one problem it faced was that a) it attracted new settlers. b) most Texans opposed slavery. c) it was nearly bankrupt. d) there was no one to act as president.

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California and the Southwest Chapter 13, Section 3

• Why did Americans take an interest in the New Mexico Territory? • What was life like for Native Americans on California’s missions and ranches? • Why did many Americans support the idea of westward expansion?

American Interest in the New Mexico Territory Chapter 13, Section 3

New Mexico Territory • Ruled by Mexico in the early 1840s. • Included all of present-day California, Nevada and Utah, most of Arizona and New Mexico, and parts of Colorado. What attracted Americans to parts of the New Mexico Territory? • Reading books about the Southwest, like Richard Henry Dana’s descriptions of California life in Two Years Before the Mast. • Trade—William Becknell led traders from Franklin, Missouri, to Santa Fe in present-day New Mexico. The route they followed became known as the Santa Fe Trail.

Native-Americans on California’s Missions and Ranches Chapter 13, Section 3

Missions • Spanish missionaries built 21 missions along the California coast. • Each mission included a church and the surrounding land. • Each mission produced enough for its own needs. Missions also supplied meat, grain, and other foods to the forts nearby. • Native Americans herded sheep and cattle and raised crops for the missions. Mission life was hard. • Native Americans lived at the missions and learned about the Roman Catholic faith.

Ranches • To encourage economic growth, the Mexican government took land from the missions and gave it to wealthy people. • These people set up huge cattle ranches, where Native Americans tended the cattle and other animals. • The Indian and Mexican cowhands who worked on the ranches were called vaqueros. They were excellent riders and ropers. Their traditions influenced later cowhands.

American Support for Westward Expansion Chapter 13, Section 3

• Every year, more Americans moved west. The United States government offered to buy California from Mexico. • Some Americans wanted control of the ports at San Francisco and San Diego. • Many people believed that Americans had a right and duty to spread their culture and its democratic government all the way to the Pacific Ocean. This belief was called Manifest Destiny. Manifest means clear or obvious. Destiny means something that is sure to happen. • Many Americans believed that expansion would open new opportunities for the United States economy. • Some people believed that white Americans were superior to Native Americans and Mexicans and deserved to take the land from those people.

Section 3 Assessment Chapter 13, Section 3

When California belonged to Mexico, California’s economy revolved mainly around a) the Santa Fe Trail. b) orange groves. c) a string of 21 missions. d) wheat farming Manifest Destiny was the belief that a) Texas should remain an independent nation—the Lone Star Republic. b) Americans had a right and duty to spread their culture from coast to coast. c) missionaries were destined to convert Indians to the Roman Catholic faith. d) Mexico should let Americans use the port of San Francisco.

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Section 3 Assessment Chapter 13, Section 3

When California belonged to Mexico, California’s economy revolved mainly around a) the Santa Fe Trail. b) orange groves. c) a string of 21 missions. d) wheat farming Manifest Destiny was the belief that a) Texas should remain an independent nation—the Lone Star Republic. b) Americans had a right and duty to spread their culture from coast to coast. c) missionaries were destined to convert Indians to the Roman Catholic faith. d) Mexico should let Americans use the port of San Francisco.

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The Mexican War Chapter 13, Section 4

• How did the United States gain Oregon and Texas? • What were the causes and results of the United States war with Mexico? • What new lands did the United States acquire as a result of the Mexican War? • How did a mix of cultures shape California and the Southwest?

The United States Gains Oregon and Texas Chapter 13, Section 4

Oregon • The United States and Britain agreed to a compromise. The two countries divided Oregon at latitude 49°N latitude. • Later, the Oregon Territory became the states of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Texas • In 1844, Texan president Sam Houston signed a treaty of annexation with the United States. • Fearing war with Mexico, the United States Senate refused to ratify the treaty. • Houston pretended that Texas might ally itself with Britain. This move prompted Congress to pass a joint resolution admitting Texas to the Union.

Causes and Results of the Mexican War Chapter 13, Section 4

Causes

Mexico did not accept Texan independence and was outraged by the United States annexation of Texas. Americans resented Mexico’s rejection of President Polk’s offer to buy California and New Mexico. A border dispute sparked war. Both nations claimed land between the Rio Grande and the Nueces River and sent troops into the area. President Polk claimed Mexico had invaded American soil and asked Congress to declare war

Results

During the war, Americans in northern California revolted against Mexican rule and declared California an independent republic, the Bear Flag Republic. In the fighting, the United States won control of all of New Mexico and California. Despite the heroic stand of young Mexican soldiers in a battle at Chapultepec near Mexico City, American forces took over the Mexican capital. The Mexican government moved to make peace. In 1848, it signed the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, ending the war.

The Mexican War Chapter 13, Section 4

The United States Acquires New Lands Chapter 13, Section 4

In the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, Mexico had to cede, or give up, some of its lands. • Mexico ceded 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. • The United States agreed to respect the rights of Spanishspeaking people in the Mexican Cession. In 1853, the United States bought the Gadsden Purchase. • The United States wanted to build a railroad across an area that is now the southern part of Arizona and New Mexico. • The United States paid Mexico $10 million for the strip of land, known as the Gadsden Purchase.

A Mix of Cultures in California and the Southwest Chapter 13, Section 4

After 1848, English-speaking settlers flocked to the Southwest. They brought their culture and ideas about democracy. Ideas and practices that Americans adopted from the Mexican Americans who lived in the Southwest. • Silver mining techniques. • Methods of irrigation. • Spanish and Native American words, for example, stampede, buffalo, tortilla, soda, and tornado. • Some Mexican laws, for example, one law that said that a husband and wife owned property jointly and another law that said landowners could not cut off water to their neighbors.

Section 4 Assessment Chapter 13, Section 4

Hard feelings between Mexico and the United States had been growing since Texas declared independence. War between the United States and Mexico finally broke out when a) Congress annexed Texas. b) Mexican and American troops clashed in an area of land claimed by both countries. c) Mexico refused to sell California. d) Sam Houston threatened to ally Texas with Britain.

American settlers in the Southwest adopted Mexican ways for a) mining silver. b) building railroads. c) writing a constitution. d) organizing a cession.

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Section 4 Assessment Chapter 13, Section 4

Hard feelings between Mexico and the United States had been growing since Texas declared independence. War between the United States and Mexico finally broke out when a) Congress annexed Texas. b) Mexican and American troops clashed in an area of land claimed by both countries. c) Mexico refused to sell California. d) Sam Houston threatened to ally Texas with Britain.

American settlers in the Southwest adopted Mexican ways for a) mining silver. b) building railroads. c) writing a constitution. d) organizing a cession.

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Americans Rush West Chapter 13, Section 5

• Why did the Mormons move west to settle in Utah? • How did the gold rush affect life in California? • Why did California develop such a diverse population?

The Mormons Settle Utah Chapter 13, Section 5

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Joseph Smith founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 1830 in upstate New York. Members of the church were called Mormons. Neighbors were angered by Mormon beliefs that property should be owned in common and that a man could have more than one wife. The Mormons moved west to Ohio, where they faced opposition. The Mormons moved to Missouri, and then to Illinois. In the 1840s, they built a community called Nauvoo on the banks of the Mississippi River. They again clashed with neighbors. An angry mob killed Joseph Smith. A new leader, Brigham Young, realized Mormons needed a refuge, a place where they would be safe from persecution. In 1847, he led an advance party to the valley of the Great Salt Lake, in presentday Utah. Thousands of Mormons followed.

People Rush Westward Chapter 13, Section 5

The California Gold Rush Chapter 13, Section 5

• In 1848, James Marshall was supervising the building of a sawmill for John Sutter, when he discovered a lump of gold. • Sutter tried to keep the news a secret, but within days people from San Francisco and other California towns were rushing to Sutter’s Mill to look for gold. • Soon, thousands of Americans, as well as people from around the world, were rushing to California to search for gold. They became known as forty-niners. • Early miners found gold easily. Some miners found a way to get the gold out of riverbeds. Yet, very few miners struck it rich. Many went broke trying to find gold. Still, although many miners left the gold fields, they stayed in California to farm or work at other jobs.

The California Gold Rush Chapter 13, Section 5

• San Francisco grew from a sleepy town to a bustling city. • When crime grew in the mining camps, miners and citydwellers formed vigilance committees. Vigilantes, or selfappointed law enforcers, dealt out punishments. Sometimes, a person accused of a crime was lynched— hanged without a trial. • Californians realized they needed a strong government. In 1849, they wrote a state constitution and asked to be admitted to the Union.

California’s Diverse Population Chapter 13, Section 5

• Originally, many Native American tribes made California their home. • Before the gold rush, California’s population included large numbers of Mexicans. • The gold rush brought in people from all over the world, including large numbers of Chinese. Many stayed on when the gold rush ended. • Escaped slaves and free blacks joined the gold rush. Many African Americans also remained in California.

People Rush into The West

• Texas wins war for independence • United States annexes Texas • Britain and United States divide Oregon • United States defeats Mexico in war • Cotton Kingdom spreads

Effects Today

Effects

• Oregon has fertile land • Texas is ideal for raising cattle and growing cotton • Many Americans believe in Manifest Destiny • Mormons seek a safe home • Gold is discovered in California

Westward Movement

Causes

Chapter 13, Section 5

• United States stretches from sea to sea • California and Texas are the most populous states • Mexican American culture enriches the United States

Section 5 Assessment Chapter 13, Section 5

Large groups of Mormon settlers moved to Utah because a) they were looking for gold. b) they planned to start cattle ranches. c) they wanted to live where they would be safe from persecution. d) Brigham Young wanted to be a governor. One important effect of California’s gold rush was that a) Chinese immigrants had an opportunity to earn equal rights. b) California became populated by many diverse groups of people. c) most miners became very wealthy. d) most Mexicans were forced to leave the area.

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Section 5 Assessment Chapter 13, Section 5

Large groups of Mormon settlers moved to Utah because a) they were looking for gold. b) they planned to start cattle ranches. c) they wanted to live where they would be safe from persecution. d) Brigham Young wanted to be a governor. One important effect of California’s gold rush was that a) Chinese immigrants had an opportunity to earn equal rights. b) California became populated by many diverse groups of people. c) most miners became very wealthy. d) most Mexicans were forced to leave the area.

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