Between 1801 and 1861, exploration was encouraged as
America underwent vast territorial expansions and
settlement.
New territories added to the United States after 1801
which together helped the U.S. mainland to reach its
present-day size.
What new territories became part of the
United States between 1801 and 1861?
WESTWARD EXPANSION
Louisiana Purchase
Florida
Texas Annexation
Oregon Country
California (Mexican
Cession)
Louisiana Purchase 1803
Jefferson bought land from France (the
Louisiana Purchase), which doubled the
size of the United States.
In 1804 the Lewis and Clark expedition, the
Louisiana Territory was explored from the
Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean.
Meriweather Lewis
William Clark
This expedition helped lay claim to the
Oregon Territory
Florida
Florida
Spain ceded (gave) Florida to the United
States through the Adams – Onis Treaty.
**5 million dollars
Election of 1844
• Presidential candidate
James Polk believed
strongly in Manifest
Destiny, and he favored
annexing Oregon and
Texas.
• His Presidential slogans were:
President James K. Polk
“Fifty-Four Forty or Fight” and
“All of Oregon or None”
•After winning the election,
the U.S. and Great Britain
compromised by dividing
Oregon at latitude 49
degrees north
Oregon
Oregon
The Oregon Territory was divided by the
United States and Great Britain in an
agreement for joint occupation.
Some Americans thought the territory should
belong solely to the U.S. “Fifty-four Forty or
Fight! became a presidential campaign slogan
in 1844. As a result, a compromised was
reached setting the boundary at 49 degrees
latitude.
Texas
Texas - “Remember the Alamo”
Texas
In 1845 , the U.S. annexed Texas after it
became an independent republic from
Mexico.
Mexican War – The Beginning
• The U.S. declared war on
Mexico in 1846, shortly after
annexing Texas.
War with
Mexico
Gen. Zachary Taylor
* First battle of the war.
Gen. Santa Anna
California
California
War with Mexico resulted in California
and the southwest territory becoming part
of the United States.( 1848 Mexican
Cession- $15 million & in 1853 the U.S.
paid $10 million for a strip of land in
present-day Arizona and New Mexico in
what was called the Gadsden Purchase.
With the Gadsden Purchase, the
contiguous United States reached
its present-day size.!
WESTWARD MIGRATION
Westward migration was influenced
by geography and economic
opportunity.
WHY MOVE WEST?
Population growth in the eastern states
Availability of Cheap, fertile land
Economic opportunity (gold rush, logging, farming,
freedom (for runaway slaves)
Cheaper, faster transportation (rivers and canals
{Erie Canal}, steamboats, etc.)
Knowledge of overland trails (Oregon & Santa Fe)
Belief in Manifest Destiny (idea that expansion was
good and right for the country)
Manifest Destiny