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6 M’s . The Wild West. Manifest Destiny. God given destiny to expand from coast to coast. England and America split the Oregon territory along the 49 th parallel. Greedy or noble? . Money – California Gold RUsh. California Gold Rush of 1849 Miners Population explodes/boomtowns
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6 M’s The Wild West
Manifest Destiny • God given destiny to expand from coast to coast. • England and America split the Oregon territory along the 49th parallel. • Greedy or noble?
Money – California Gold RUsh • California Gold Rush of 1849 • Miners • Population explodes/boomtowns • Wild/violent • Single, unmarried men • Ghost Towns • Storekeepers were the ones who hit it rich! (supply and demand) • Few actually strike it rich
Mountain men • Fur/beaver pelts • Toughest and most colorful men in the West • Drank, smoke, chewed tobacco • Learned the Indian way • Rendevouz • When fur lost its popularity, many became guides
migration • Oregon Trail/Santa Fe Trail • In search of land: Mexican California or Oregon • Wagon Trains, pack everything you can carry • 4-6 months, $500-1000 • Families • Long , difficult, disease • 2,000 miles (15 a day) • Trails lined with graves
Mormon Pioneers • Seeking religious freedom • Joseph Smith – Book of Mormon • Tight knit community: persecuted • Brigham Young • Mormon Trail – best organized of all the treks • Great Salt Lake
Mexican War • Mexico free from Spain • Americans move into Texas (Stephen Austin) • Mexico ok, then angry • Sam Houston leads war for Independence (Alamo) • Texas becomes its own country for 20 years– admitted as state • What is the border? Rio Grande River or Nueces River • Pres. Sends in troops • Mexico attacks War • U.S. military dominates • Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo: created boundaries of modern America. (Rio Grande)