manifest destiny (period 5)

-desire for access to natural and mineral resources

-hope of economic opportunities

-religious refuge

treaty between u.s and spain that established boundary for u.s. but had excluded texas

americans led by stephen f. austin started to settle in the area and quickly began outnumbering mexicans; mexico recently gained independence from spain

he marched north with 6,000 mexican soldiers to subdue the americans in san antonio

americans and mexicans fought for a span of 10 days until americans were overpowered and killed by santa anna’s troops

killed during the mexican breaching of the alamo

in april 1836, forces under sam houston scored a victory over santa anna’s army, forcing him to recognize texan independence

president james k polk after the mexican american war

methodist, presbyterian, and catholic missionaries made the 6-month journey to the willamette valley

2000-mile journey from the western edge of american settlement in missouri to oregon

president polk was able to persuade the british to relinquish claims of the territory below the 49th parallel; treaty establishing oregon territory was approved by senate

-they originally settled in ohio in 1831 during the 2nd great awakening, led by joseph smith

-mormons have controversial practices like polygamy that christians disapproved of, and they were driven out of ohio by a mob

- brigham young led mormons to great salt lake in utah during 1847 where they remained

1849-1850s era where california’s population surged from the discovery of gold in 1848

california’s indian population of 150,000 was reduced to about 30,000 by 1860, resulting from widespread attacks at the hands of white settlers

the whole continent was meant for white americans; it was theirs to exploit, theirs to make into one mighty nation, and theirs to display the virtues of democratic and christian institutions

gave 160 acres to any settler who would farm the land for five years; was an effort to populate the sparsely populated territories in the midwest

built in 1862 after the pacific railway act authorized subsidies in land and money for the construction; completed in 1869

in 1853 and 1854 american warships under the command of matthew perry sailed into tokyo harbor; perry negotiated a treaty that demanded that the japanese trade with him.

opened two ports to American shipping. This soon led to a commercial agreement on trade; the u.s. became more closely tied with asia than ever before