Manifest Destiny and Manifest Destiny and Westward ExpansionWestward Expansion

1843-1869 Oregon Trail1843-1869 Oregon Trail

1846-1848 U.S. Mexican War1846-1848 U.S. Mexican War

1849-1852 California Gold Rush1849-1852 California Gold Rush

Oregon TrailOregon Trail

• 1843 Great Migration Westward to the Oregon Territory

• Approximately 200,000 traveled along this trail

• Most traveled in covered wagons• Ended with the completion of the

Transcontinental Railroad in 1869

The Trail WestThe Trail West

• From Independence to Portland

Why Head West?Why Head West?

• Freedom of life on the frontier

• Manifest Destiny

• Reputation for good farmland

• Escape from epidemics of disease and infection in the east

• 640 acre land grants for free

• To prevent this territory from falling under the control of the British

Role of the British in the Oregon Role of the British in the Oregon TerritoryTerritory

• Occupied this territory to profit from fur trade

• 1844, Presidential Candidate James Polk ran on the platform “54 40 or Fight”

• British military considered a war to keep control, but decided against it because of U.S. patriotism and military

Polk: “54 40 or Fight”Polk: “54 40 or Fight”

• Through negotiations with the British after Polk's inauguration, the boundary between the U.S. and British Canada was established at 49° with the Treaty of Oregon in 1846.

Jumping Off CitiesJumping Off Cities

• Independence, MO, and Council Bluffs, Iowa

• Economies of these towns prospered from growth of supply shops that served the emigrants

Remnants of the Trail are Still Visible TodayRemnants of the Trail are Still Visible Today

• Scotts Bluff National Monument, Scottsbluff, Nebraska (left)

Hardships Along The WayHardships Along The Way

• 2000 mile journey - Walking

• Purchase 1000 pounds of food for the journey

• Disease – Cholera

• Weather

• River Crossings

• Wagon accidents

Death along the wayDeath along the way

• There are several graves marked with fieldstones in a fenced in area at Register Cliff in Scottsbluff.

Mexican – American WarMexican – American War

• 1846-1848

• First Major conflict connected to idea of Manifest Destiny

• Mexico refuses to accept U.S. offer to purchase

• Border dispute over strip of land between Nueces and Rio Grande River – Polk asks for a declaration of war from Congress

U.S. vs. MexicoU.S. vs. Mexico

• General Zachary Taylor Santa Anna

Mexican – American WarMexican – American War

• General Zachary Taylor leads American Forces

• Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna leads Mexican Forces

• Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo signed in 1848, granting U.S. present day NV, UT, CA, and NM.

• Mexico receives $15 million in compensation

BattlesBattles

• Siege of Vera Cruz Resaca de la Palma

California Gold RushCalifornia Gold Rush

• 1848 – John Marshall discovers gold while working at Sutter’s Mill in Coloma, CA

• 1849 – President Polk confirms discovery of Gold to Congress – word spreads quickly throughout U.S.

• Thousands head west in covered wagons in search of gold – given name 49ers

• California cities and economies sprung up

California Gold RushCalifornia Gold Rush

• Sutter’s Mill

MiningMining

• Only a knife, pick, shovel and pan needed at first to pry gold from rocks

• Dirt from rivers and creeks could be swirled in a pan and sifted

• By 1852, most of the surface gold had been removed, and mining was no longer profitable

The Long TomThe Long Tom

• Miners would shovel dirt into it, pour water over it, and rock it like a cradle. Lighter dirt and gravel was washed away, leaving heavier gold.

Panning for GoldPanning for Gold

• The sand and dirt would float in the water and could be poured off leaving heavy

rocks, and hopefully gold.

John B.L. Soule/Horace GreeleyJohn B.L. Soule/Horace Greeley

•“Go West, Young Man, and Grow Up with the Country.”

Quiz #1Quiz #1

• In 1843, people began traveling westward towards the Oregon territory. Eventually, over 200,000 people made this journey. This was called

• A.) The Great Exodus

• b.) The Great Migration

• c.) The Great Journey

• d.) The Great Trail

Quiz #2Quiz #2

• Before the Americans settled the Oregon Territory, what country profited from the fur trade of this region?

• A.) Great Britain

• B.) Mexico

• C.) Spain

• D.) France

Quiz #3Quiz #3

• What presidential candidate ran on the slogan “54 40 of Fight”, which was a reference to his desire for the U.S. to expand the Oregon Territory to the 54 40 line of latitude?

• A.) Andrew Jackson• B.) William Henry Harrison• C.) James K. Polk• D.) James Monroe

Quiz #4Quiz #4

• Who was the American general that led troops into several battles during the Mexican American War?

• A.) Zachary Taylor

• B.) Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna

• C.) James K. Polk

• D.) Andrew Jackson

Quiz #5Quiz #5

• Who was the Mexican president during the Mexican-American War?

• A.) Zachary Taylor

• B.) Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna

• C.) James K. Polk

• D.) Andrew Jackson

Quiz #6Quiz #6

• What treaty ended the Mexican - American War?

• A.) Treaty of Paris

• B.) Treaty of Ghent

• C.) Treaty of California

• D.) Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Quiz #7Quiz #7

• In 1848, gold was discovered in what California location?

• A.) Death Valley

• B.) Los Angeles

• C.) Sutter’s Mill

• D.) San Diego

Quiz #8Quiz #8

• List and explain one cause of the Mexican-American war.

Quiz #9Quiz #9

• Describe two hardships that emigrants faced along the Oregon Trail.

Quiz #10Quiz #10

• Explain how the gold rush changed the population and the economy of California.

BonusBonus

• What new territory did the U.S. acquire as a result of the Mexican-American War?