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Unit 4: Westward Expansion

Unit 4: Westward Expansion. The period 1800 – 1860 saw the U.S. grow in several ways: A. Geographically: the nation expanded all the way to the Pacific, acquiring new land thru purchase, war, and by treaty

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Unit 4: Westward Expansion

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  1. Unit 4: Westward Expansion • The period 1800 – 1860 saw the U.S. grow in several ways: A.Geographically: the nation expanded all the way to the Pacific, acquiring new land thru purchase, war, and by treaty B. Building “infrastructure”: expanding the network of roads, canals, and especially railroads opened new markets C. Population: Immigration continued, growing to a tidal wave in the 1840’s

  2. A. Geographic Growth: The Louisiana Purchase • 1803…during Thos. Jefferson’s admin. • French ruler Napolean Bonaparte envisioned a North American empire • Anticipating war with England (again), Napolean sold LA Territory to U.S. for $15 million • Purchase doubled size of U.S.

  3. The Louisiana Purchase

  4. New States: 1803 - 1819 • Ohio (1803) • Louisiana (1812) • Indiana (1816) • Mississippi (1817) • Illinois (1818) • Alabama (1819)

  5. As new states were added: • At issue was this question: • Will each new state come into the Union as a slave state or free state? (we’ll return to this issue in the next unit…)

  6. What to do about native Americans? • Widely believed by the 1820’s that Indians could not be assimilated into white culture • Indian Removal Act (1830) • Andrew Jackson’s presidency • Remove tribes to fed’l. lands (present day OK) • The “Trail of Tears”…Cherokee Nation of NC forced to march to res. In OK…thousands died

  7. The “Trail of Tears”

  8. B. Building Infrastructure: Roads, RR’s, & Canals • During the ½ century 1,000’s of miles of new roads, RR’s, and canals were built • Effect / Impact: possible to move people and goods over great distances • farmers in rural areas could get goods to distant markets • New, expanding market for finished goods

  9. Farmers of the Ohio Valley now linked to east coast and its seaports Examples: • The National Road (linked MD to ILL) • The Erie Canal (linked Albany to Lake Erie)

  10. The Erie Canal

  11. C. Population growth • 1. Immigration: Immigrants came mainly from northern Europe (from Asia, too, a little later) a.)immigrantsmigrated to eastern cities, providing a cheap labor force for an emerging factory system of production b.) many headed west in search of opportunity c.) the greatest wave came from Ireland in the 1840’s b/c of the “Potato Famine” IMPACT? An ever-expanding pool of cheap labor

  12. “Manifest Destiny” • A popular belief from roughly 1840 to 1860 that westward expansion of the nation was inevitable because it was God’s will to do so…

  13. Why was this belief so popular? • There was plenty of land available (cheap!) • Expansion would create new markets • Harbors of the west coast would make trade with China easier • Moralistic reasons: to spread the virtues of “our” values (our values were the “right” ones and we had a duty to share / spread them)

  14. More land acquired: • Florida: ceded by Mexico in 1819 • Texas: need a new slide for this one!

  15. Texas • Following a revolution in which it won independence from Spain, Mexico opened its northern lands to settlement by Americans (1821) • In 1830, Mexico closed new settlement b/c: • Too many Protestants coming in • Many brought slaves (slavery outlawed in Mexico)

  16. Texas (con’t.) • 3. (1835) Texas claimed independence from Mexico… “Republic of Texas” • 4. Mex. Army under Santa Anna overwhelmed a small band of Texans at the Alamo, but the Texans later won indep. & TX was recognized by Pres. Andrew Jackson as a sovereign nation.

  17. Texas (con’t.) • Sought annexation (to be added to) by the U.S. • Texas finally came into the Union in 1845…why did it take so long? • Heated debates in Congress over its admittance to the Union as a free…or slave state

  18. The Oregon Territory • James K. Polk won 1844 election largely on his promise to add TX and the Oregon Territory • JKP negotiated deal w/Britain for 49o N to separate U.S. and Britain’s claims…added present day Wash., Oregon, and Idaho

  19. U.S. territorial expansion to 1853

  20. The Mexican-American War • 1846-1847 • Polk wanted war w/Mexico (to add more land) • The TX-Mexico border had been disputed for 10 yrs (Mex claimed it was the Nueces River… TX and now U.S. said Rio Grande River)

  21. The Mexican-American War • Polk sent troops into disputed area…provoked a fight • “…Mexico has…shed American blood upon American soil…” • The war itself was very one-sided: the U.S. had most of the advantages… industry, army, navy, military leadership, etc.

  22. The Americans won every major battle: • Gen.Stephen W. Kearney took N. Mexico • Col. John C. Fremont org’d. the Bear Flag Revolt (CA) • Gen.Zachary Taylor invaded lower Mexico…took Monterrey • Gen. Winfield Scott took Veracruz…marched to Mexico City…bitter resistance at Chapultepec

  23. The end of war and the spoils… • Mexico surrendered Sept., 1847 • Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo • Mexico gave up northern third of nation...U.S. added 1.2 million sq. miles • U.S. added the “Mexican Cession”…present-day CA, AZ, NM, CO, UT • U.S. paid $15 million

  24. U.S. territorial expansion to 1853

  25. The Gadsden Purchase • Supporters of a southern route for a transcontinental RR agitated for U.S. to acquire land south of the Salt River… • 1853: U.S. bought that land… The continental U.S. is complete…

  26. U.S. territorial expansion to 1853

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