Manifest Destiny:
Notes
Manifest Destiny- the belief that the borders of the United States was meant or “destined” to reach
from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.
Independence for Texas: Because the Spanish wanted to promote the growth of Texas, they offered
large tracts of land to people who agreed to bring families to settle the land.
Moses Austin received the first land grant in 1821. He died and his son Stephen Austin recruited 300
American families to settle the fertile land. Many received 960 acres, with additional acres for each
child. The Mexican government passed 3 colonization laws: settlers must 1. Learn to speak Spanish,
2. become a Mexican citizen, and 3. Convert to Catholicism and OBEY all Mexican laws
By 1830 American in Texas outnumbered Mexicans and the American colonists had NOT adopted
Mexican ways.
The Mexican government was concerned and issued a decree, or official order to stop all immigration
from the United States and put a tax on goods imported from the United States. This angered the
Texans. Texans began calling for independence. Conflict broke out. In 1835 Santa Anna the President
of Mexico sent an army into Texas to punish the Texans for criticizing him. A battle broke out in the
town of Gonzales and the Texans won. They were not so lucky at the Alamo. All defenders were killed.
In 1836 at the battle of San Jacinto Santa Anna was captured and signed a treaty that recognized the
independence of Texas. Texans wanted to be annexed or added to the United States however President
Andrew Jackson refused because the addition to another slave state would upset the balance of slave
and free states so Texas was an independent country until 1845 when it was finally annexed.
California: President James K. Polk was determined to get California and New Mexico from Mexico. He
wanted to be the President to fulfill the nations Manifest Destiny. He tried to buy California twice but
Mexico refused to sell so President Polk plotted to get the land through war but he wanted to provoke
Mexico into taking military action first.
Mexico had never recognized Texas independence (Santa Anna had made himself President and
therefore had no authority to sign any treaties) so when the U.S. annexed Texas this angered the
Mexican government. Another dispute was over the boundary. The Mexican government claimed the
border lay along the Nueces River while the U.S. claimed the Rio Grande formed the border.
Polk sent an agent to Mexico to offer a deal. The U.S. would pay 30 million for California and New
Mexico and take over Mexico’s debts to American citizens. The Mexican government refused and
announced its intention to reclaim Texas for Mexico. Polk ordered General Zachary Taylor to march his
soldiers to the disputed area and a fight broke out between American soldiers and Mexican soldiers.
Polk told Congress that Mexico had, “invaded our territory and shed American blood on American soil”
*(Not true as land was disputed)
Congress declared war on Mexico. (1847)
The Treaty of Hidalgo (1848) Mexico gave up all claims to Texas and agreed that the Rio Grande was the
border between Texas and Mexico. Also what was called the Mexican Cession, Mexico gave up
California and New Mexico and in return the U.S. pad $15 million
In 1853 the United States paid Mexico and additional $10 million for the Gadsden Purchase, a strip of
land in present day Arizona and New Mexico.