Chapter 13: An Age of
Expansionism
AP United States History
Week of January 18, 2016
Borderlands of the 1830s
What were the borders of the US in the 1830s, and why?
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The last big addition of territory was the Louisiana Purchase
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North: Canada, and Britain
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Webster-Ashburton Treaty (1842) settled US-Canada territorial dispute
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US and Britain both claimed Oregon
South: Spain/Mexico
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Present-day New Mexico was more populated than Oregon
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1821: Mexico gains independence
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1833: Mexican government gave Indian land to rancheros
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Amicable commercial relations led to expansionist ambitions
The Texas Revolution
How did Texas end up independent, and what trouble did that cause?
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Mexican officials encouraged settlement of Texas
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Stephen F. Austin received grant of land
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Two issues: American settlers wanted to bring slaves, rejected
authority of Catholic church
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1829: Mexico freed slaves
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Mexico then prohibited further American immigration, slave
importation
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1834: General Antonio López de Santa Anna made himself dictator
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1835: Austin laid siege to San Antonio
The Texas Revolution, Part II: Republic of Texas
How did Texas end up independent, and what trouble did that cause?
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March 2, 1836: Texas declares independence
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Sam Houston named commander in chief
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Santa Anna crossed Rio Grande into San Antonio
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Battle of the Alamo
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13-day battle between Mexican and Texan forces at a San Antonio mission
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Santa Anna’s forces eventually overran the Alamo
Texans regrouped at San Jacinto River and captured Santa Anna
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Treaty of Velasco: Mexico recognizes Republic of Texas
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Sam Houston elected president; Texas allows slavery
Trails of Trade and Settlement
Trails of Trade and Settlement
The 1840s was also a time of many westward migrations
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Trade from Missouri to Santa Fe, NM
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Relations soured after Texan independence
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Oregon Trail: overland route to the Willamette Valley
south of the Columbia River
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Mormon migrations: Mormons, due to persecution,
moved “outside” US to the Great Salt Lake
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Utah came under American sovereignty in 1848
“Manifest Destiny” and the Mexican War
Americans began to proclaim that it was the manifest destiny of the United States to expand
across all of North America
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“Manifest Destiny,” John L. O’Sullivan
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God was on the side of expansionism
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“Extending the area” of freedom
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Population growth necessitated territorial acquisition
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If not, United States would develop polarized social classes like Europe
John Tyler became president, after William Henry Harrison (immediately) died
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1843: Tyler supported annexation of Texas
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Tyler and Calhoun linked annexation to issue of slavery, antislavery, and the South
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Van Buren opposed annexation, lost 1844 nomination, and James K. Polk annexed
Texas
Polk and The (Almost) Two-Front War
Polk’s expansionism almost landed the US in simultaneous wars against Great Britain
and Mexico, but eventually added more land to the US than any other president
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While Polk was privately willing to accept the 49th parallel, he asked for all of
Oregon Country
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Eventually (1845) US and Britain ratified treaty with border at 49º
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By not going to 54º40’ and wanting to add Texas, would this strengthen
proslavery forces in Congress?
US recognized Texas’ independence and claimed land between Nueces and Rio
Grande
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Polk placed troops in Louisiana and had Gen. Zachary Taylor advance past the
Nueces River
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Polk was already preparing for war, advancing in California and New Mexico
The Mexican War
Although Mexico recognized Texan independence, they rejected Texas’ claim to land south of the Nueces
River. US-Mexican hostility culminated in war, and more territory for the US
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Mexico and the US broke off diplomatic relations
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May 13: US declared war. Meanwhile…
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In California: John C. Frémont stirred up anti-Mexico sentiment, and US Navy ships were in
the Pacific
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In New Mexico: Col. Stephen Kearny marched towards Santa Fe
Taylor crossed Rio Grande but did not advance far into Mexico
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Polk replaced him with Gen. Winfield Scott, but Taylor still became a “war hero”
US troops eventually captured Santa Fe, all of California, and advanced to Mexico City
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Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo: US gained New Mexico and California for $15 million, Rio
Grande as US-Mexico border
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US acquired southern parts of Arizona and New Mexico through Gadsden Purchase, in
1853