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..you may all go to hell and I will go to
Texas. -Davy Crockett
Daily Comment Card
1844
1840/1850
MANIFEST DESTINY
TRANSPORTATION IN THE 1840s AND 1850s
-Belief that America was destined to expand to
the Pacific, and possibly into Canada and
Mexico. -John OSullivan coined the phrase in an
article pushing for annexation of Texas. -Came
from the post-1812 War nationalism -it helped
America push westward, but fueled the Mexican
War, Displacement of Native Americans, and
caused conflict over slavery.
-Tremendous expansion of railroad lines
created a national market -Railroads, such as the
Baltimore and Ohio (B O) Railroad were
developed to help line the Midwest to the
East Coast -Steamboats and clipper ships became
more popular for travel
SONG FOR THE DAY ALL MY EXs LIVE IN TEXAS
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Manifest Destiny

1. TEXAS
2. POLK
3. WAR WITH MEXICO
4. OREGON
5. UTAH
6. CALIFORNIA
7. TAYLOR

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Manifest Destiny
The belief that the U.S. had a divine mission to
extend its power and settlement across North
America.
AMERICA BELIEVED IT HAD A GOD GIVEN RIGHT TO TAKE
THE WEST (CANADA AND MEXICO ALSO).
4

• TEXAS
• -independence from Mexico in 1836
• -becomes a Republic
• -seeks admission as state under President Sam
  Houston (talks to GB)

Stephen Austin colonized TX
The Battle of the Alamo (1836)
Statehood 1845
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B) POLK -POLK WINS 1844 AGAINST HENRY
CLAY -5440 OR FIGHT! -WHEN TX ANNEXATION
MEANS WAR, DECIDES TO WORK OUT TREATY WITH GREAT
BRITIAN
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C. WAR WITH MEXICO --1845 TX admitted as state,
Mexico breaks relations -Zachary Taylor sent to
provoke Mexico in April 1846, war declared May 13
-Texas Rangers help los tejanos diablos
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MANY OF CIVIL WAR GENERALS SERVE
Grant Lee Longstreet Picket Meade jackson
WILMOT PROVISO DEFEATED (WOULD HAVE PROHIBITED
SLAVERY IN ANY TERRITORY GAINED BY WAR)
8
Scott
Freemont
Stephen Kearney
Kearney takes New Mexico and South
California Bear Flag Revolt led by Freemont
overthrows Mexico in California General Winfield
Scott takes Mexico City War Ends with Treaty of
Guadalupe-Hidalgo we get Arizona, New
Mexico, California, Nevada, Utah (1848)
Agree Rio Grande is Texas border
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D) OREGON -OCCUPIED JOINTLY WITH ENGLAND (and
some natives) -1840S travel by Oregon Trail (6
months) -CALLED FOR IN 1844 ELECTION -OREGON
TREATY COMPROMISES AT 49degrees (Polk president)
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E) UTAH -Settled by Mormons (religion founded
by Joseph Smith) -Led to Utah by Brigham Young
(1848) at that time it was part of
Mexico -Not made a state until 1896
(issue is polygamy more than 1 spouse)
Smith was killed in 1844
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F. CALIFORNIA -Gold discovered at Sutters Mill,
California -Populations swells (14,000 to
100,000) -49ers (GOLD RUSH) -admitted as a state
1850
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-

• TAYLOR
• ZACHARY TAYLOR WINS ELECTION AS MILITARY HERO IN
  1848
• OLD ROUGH AND READY
• DIES AFTER JULY 4, 1850

FREE SOIL PARTY FORMS TO PROTEST TAYLOR THE SLAVE
HOLDER RUNNING/ THE WHIGS SPLIT WITH ANTI-SLAVERY
FORCES JOINING THIS NEW PARTY
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H. OTHER THINGS TO KNOW OSTEND
MANIFESTO WALKER EXPEDITION CLAYTON-BULWER
TREATY GADSDEN PURCHASE
PRESIDENT PIERCE ATTEMPTS TO BUY CUBA SECRET
MEETINGS IN OSTEND, BELGIUM
TRIED TO TAKE BAJA CALIFORNIA. TOOK OVER
NICARAGUA (1855). HE IS EXECUTED IN 1860.
TREATY THAT US GB WILL NOT ATTEMPT TO TAKE
EXCLUSIVE CONTROL OF FUTURE CANAL IN CENTRAL
AMERICA.
PIERCE ADDS STRIP OF LAND IN SOUTHWEST FOR A
RAILROAD. FORMS PART OF NEW MEXICO ARIZONA