Name ______Page # ______Manifest Destiny Study Guide
Mexico gains their independence from Spain o Mexico opens up its borders to trade with the United States o Allows Americans to settle in its territory as long as they become citizens of Mexico and become Catholics o Santa Fe Trail – profitable trade route for covered wagons. o Many Americans move to Texas
Rising Tensions o Americans were mad when Mexican government ended slavery o Mexico forbids (does not allow) more Americans from moving to Texas o More Americans move to Texas and Mexico is unable to stop them o General Santa Anna headed to Texas with 6,000 Mexican troops. Texans were not prepared for this military challenge
The Fight for the Alamo o 183 men held the Alamo, including famous frontiersmen Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie o Santa Anna flew a red banner—the sign that no mercy would be shown, no prisoners taken. Americans responded by firing a cannon. o The defenders managed to hold off the Mexican attack for 12 days before losing
The Defeat of Santa Anna o Soon after the fall of the Alamo, Mexican troops attacked a US force at Goliad. o Although the Texans surrendered, Santa Anna ordered them all killed. More than 300 prisoners were shot. o Next, Santa Anna and his troops went after the remaining force led by Sam Houston. o Houston surprise attacked Santa Anna. When close to the camp, they came running and firing. “Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad” they screamed. Santa Anna was captured and the Mexicans were quickly defeated. With the Battle of Jacinto, Texas won independence.
The Lone Star Republic o Texans adopted the nickname, “Lone Star Republic” and proclaimed Texas a self- governing country. Sam Houston became its first president. o 1836 – Texas asked Congress to be annexed, or added, to the Union. . Congress says NO because they fear a war with Mexico and it would upset the balance of power in Congress
Election of 1844 o James K. Polk wins because he favored the annexation of Texas and Oregon o Slogan for annexation of Oregon – 54 40’ or fight. (Britain also claimed Oregon) o Polk negotiated a treaty with Britain to divide Oregon. The United States got the lands south of latitude 49’ N. Tensions with Mexico o The annexation of Texas increased tensions with Mexico o There was a boundary dispute between Mexico and Texas
Mexican-American War (1846 – 1848) o General Zachary Taylor and General Winfield Scott defeat Santa Anna and the Mexican troops
Achieving Manifest Destiny o Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) formally ended the Mexican-American War o Under the treaty, Mexico recognized the annexation of Texas and ceded (gave up) a vast territory to the U.S. This is known as the Mexican Cession. In return, the U.S. paid $18 million to Mexico o In the Gadsden Purchase of 1853, the United States paid Mexico $10 million for a narrow strip of present-day Arizona and New Mexico. o Manifest Destiny has been achieved!
Oregon Trial and California Gold Rush o Oregon Trail - Trail from Independence, Missouri that many settlers took to the west o Gold discovered in 1849 – Thousands of forty-niners move to California looking to make a fortune Effect – Between 1849 and 1852, about 250,000 people arrived in California. San Francisco becomes a center of commerce ($) Effect – Destruction of the California Indians Effect – 1850 – California applies to become a free state (slavery issue breaks the nation apart)