Oregon Country
huge area west of Rocky Mountains (now includes Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and Western Canada); wagon trains went to this area to settle.
mountain men
--adventurous men hiked through the region's vast forests, trapping animals and living off the land;
--first Americans to settle in Oregon. Made nice profits off of selling furs, but led dangerous lives;
--had great survival skills.
--Learned a lot of tra
rugged individualists
people who follow their own independent course in life; this describes the mountain men that first settled in Oregon, which was dense forest. They led a life very distinct from ordinary society, and lived off the land (eating and wearing products from ani
rendezvous
french word meaning "get-together"; it was the meeting place where mountain men would meet with fur traders to sell the furs from the animals they trapped; during the meeting, there would be entertainment and then bargaining.
Oregon Trail
a route from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon City, Oregon, used by pioneers traveling to the Oregon Territory
--people and wagons formed into wagon trains; they formed into traveling groups, and each group elected leaders to make decisions along the way
dictator
a ruler with absolute power and authority
Tejanos
people of Mexican decent who were born in Texas; they supported the American's effort to take Texas for America (they did not want independence from Mexico as much as they wanted to get rid of Dictator Santa Anna.
Alamo
the mission in San Antonio where in 1836 Mexican forces under Santa Anna besieged and massacred American rebels who were fighting to make Texas independent of Mexico
-- Texans outnumbered (6000 Mexican troops, 150 Texans)
-- Texans poorly equipped (low su
siege
enemy forces try to capture a city or fort, often by surrounding and bombarding it (this happened at the Alamo)
Battle of San Jacinto
(1836) Final battle of the Texas Revolution; resulted in the defeat of the Mexican army and independence for Texas
--Battle lasted only 18 minutes
-- they caught Dictator Santa Anna and his army by surprise and killed 630 Mexicans and captured 700 more
--
Lone Star Republic
Nickname of Texas before it became a state; the Texas flag had a single white star;
--Texas was independent of the US, but used the US Constitution ass a model
--Sam Houston was President of the Republic of Texas
-- Texas existed as an independent Republi
annex
add-on (used to refer to adding new States to the US)
New Mexico Territory
--huge region which included present day California as well as the Southwest areas covering present day New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Colorado
-- prior to 1820's this territory was owned by Spain, and Spain would not let Americans live there; they arrived in
Santa Fe Trail
a trail that extends from Missouri to New Mexico; William Becknell, a merchant, was the first American to head for Santa Fe (capital of New Mexico); he then led other traders across the plains; other Americans soon followed his trail. this became known as
self-sufficient
producing enougn for its own needs (missions in California became this way)
vaqueros
the Indian and Mexican cowhands who worked on the ranches that were set up in California by the newly independent Mexico; they were great riders and ropers and their traditions strongly influenced later cow hands.
Manifest Destiny
This expression was popular in the 1840s. Many people believed that the U.S. was destined to secure territory from "sea to sea," from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. This rationale drove the acquisition of territory.
-- the belief was called this in a
Bear Flag Republic
nickname for California after it declared independence from Mexico in 1846
Chapultepec
Final battle of Mexican War -- a victory by American over Mexican forces just outside of Mexico City; Mexicans fought heroically, and are still honored today for their bravery in that lost battle.
Mexico City (the capital of Mexico) was now in Mexican han
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
Treaty that ended the Mexican War, granting the U.S. control of the territories then known as Texas, New Mexico, and California (this included all of the present day states in the West and Southwest, in exchange for $15 million
cede
give up
Mexican Cession
historical name for the region of the present day southwestern United States that was ceded to the U.S. by Mexico in 1848 under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo following the Mexican-American War. this massive land grab was significant because the question
Gadsden Purchase
the purchasing of land for $10 million from Mexico that completed the continental United States It provided the land needed to build the transcontinental railroad. (This strip consists of present day Arizona and New Mexico)
Mormons
church founded by Joseph Smith in 1830 with headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah; many followers
--Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
-- largest group to move into the Mexican Cession
-- teachings of this religion angered many people
-- believed
Nauvoo
a community built by the Mormons in Illinois; they classed with their neighbors, and their leader, Joseph Smith was killed; Brigham Young became new leader
refuge
a place where someone would be safe from persecution
-- mormons needed a refuge from people who disapproved of their beliefes
-- they found a refuge in a valley between the Rocky Mountains and the Great Salt Lake in Utah (became Salt Lake City and today i
Sutter's Mill
location where gold was discovered in California in 1848, setting off the gold rush
forty-niners
more than 80,000 people made the long journey to California in 1849
vigilantes
self-appointed law enforcers
lynched
hanged without legal trial
Causes of Texans to fight for Independence
most did not follow the rules there and this led to big tensions between the US and Mexico
Annexation of Texas
Texas decides to secede from Mexico and attempts to declare its independence which eventually leads to our adoption of the land as a state although it was feared that it would cause conflict with mexico leading to war. Southern states in support of this a
Election of 1844
Main debate over Texas. Whigs nominate Henry Clay and democrats nominate James Polk. Polk says he will annex Texas and Oregon to make both sides happy. Polk was elected
manifest destiny
the belief that the United States was destined to stretch across the continent from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean
-- had negative side because many White Americans believed they were superior to Native Americans and Mexicans and they used this b
reasons for going west
farmland (soil along Pacific Coast was fertile, plenty of rainfall, mild temperatures year round, dense forests had fur bearing animals (beavers, etc) attracted fur trappers.
First permanent white American settlers in Oregon Country
missionaries (aiming to convert Native Americans to Christianity)
Marcus and Narcissa Whitman -- a married couple who were missionaries who went to Oregon>
The missionaries helped stir up interest in Oregon Country because they sent back glowing reports a
Oregon Fever
this refers to an urgent influx of settlers who migrated west to Oregon Country after the depression in the 1830s; people were looking for farmland and new opportunities, and by 1866, more than 350,000 men, women, and children had migrated to the far west
Hardships of Journey to Oregon
-- long and difficult journey
-- 15 miles a day; everyone (women and children, too) had jobs along the trail
-- many belongings were discarded along the way to lighten the wagons
-- many dangers:
-- drowning as they floated wagons across rivers
-- blister
Claims over Oregon Country -- dispute
Four countries claimed Oregon Country: US, Great Britain, Spain and Russia (as well as Native Americans who lived there for centuries) Spain and Russia had few settlers there, so they withdrew their claims to the land. The US and Great Britain reached and
Fifty Four or Fight
A slogan of James Polk (Democratic candidate for President in 1844) -- helped him win -- it refers to the latitude 54-40, the northern limit of the disputed Oregon territory between America and the British. Political slogan of the Democrats in the electio
Texas
In 1800s, it was part of the Spanish colony of Mexico.
Why did American settle there?
American farmers wanted to settle there for farmland. In 1821, Spain gave Moses Austin a land grant to settle there. He soon died and it was taken over by his son.
Steven Austin
--Inherited his father's land grant from Spain to some land in Texas; before he could establish a colony, Mexico won independence from Spain;
--the new leaders of Mexico let him bring settlers to Texas. Mexico wanted settlers to develop the land (only 400
Who was General Santa Anna
-- A Mexican who gained power in Mexico and threw out the Mexican constitution and became a dictator
-- he intended to drive Americans out of Texas
-- engaged in a number of battles against Texas
What happened after the Battle of San Jacinto?
General Santa Anna (dictator of Mexico) was captured
-- he was forced to sign a treaty giving Texas its independence
-- the government of Mexico reduced to accept the treaty so Texas had problems
Sam Houston
Led the Texas Army against the Mexican dictator
-- led surprise attack at San Jacinto, winning the war for independence
-- became President of the newly independent Republic of Texas
Why is Alamo remembered today?
It is a symbol of Texas's struggle for Independence from Mexico
Davy Crockett
well known Tennessee politician who was present at the Alamo, during which his fame as a bear-killer/frontiersman had already been established; taken prisoner after the battle and executed by bayonet by Santa Anna, in front of all of his men
Why didn't Congress want to annex Texas as a state?
Mexico refused to accept the treaty that Santa Anna signed giving Texas its independence, and Congress was afraid that if it annexed Texas, it would lead to a war between the US and Texas.
-- also, most Texans had slaves, and northerners opposed adding an
The Mexican War
1846, a 20 year war which resulted in the US expanding its territory to the Pacific Ocean (achieving dream of Manifest Destiny)
-- Americans were divided over the war (north did not want it because it did not want more slave states; south and West wanted
What sparked the Mexican War?
-- desire for Manifest Destiny (expansion)
-- desire of Texas to become a State (many Americans living there)
Who was US President during Mexican War
James Polk
Zachary Taylor
General of US under President Polk who was ordered to set up posts in the disputed areas of New Mexico,
--later became 12th president of the United States. Sent by president Polk to lead the American Army against Mexico at Rio Grande, but defeated.
-- led
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
Treaty that ended the Mexican War, granting the U.S. control of Texas, New Mexico, and California in exchange for $15 million
, February 2 1848. The agreement between President Polk and the new Mexican government for Mexico to cede California and New Mexi
Mexican Cession
land that Mexico gave to the United States after the Mexican War through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo; included in what is now California, Nevada, and Utah; most of Arizona and New Mexico and parts of Colorado, Texdas, and Wyoming
California
-- first ruled by Spain, then Mexico
-- Spanish explorers reached California in 1542; Spanish and Native American culture shaped life in California
-- first settlements were missionaries (21 missionaries set up along the coast
-- next, once Mexico won ind
William Becknell
a merchant and adventurer, he was the first american to head for Sante fe. In 1821 he led a group of traders from Franklin Misourri across the plains (which became known as the Santa Fe Trail)
Missions
-- first settlements by Spanish in California (to convert Natives)
-- 21 Spanish missions along California Coast
-- Missions were self-sufficient
-- Spanish Soldiers built forts near missions, and missions supplied meat, grain and other foods to forts.
--
Cattle Ranches
To speed up the economy in California, the Mexican government took land from missions and gave it to wealthy individuals who set up huge cattle ranches in California
Bear Flag Republic
Americans in Northern California had revolted against Mexican rule (even before the Mexican War) and declared independence from Mecixo in 1846; they nicknamed their state the Bear Flag Republic; they were led by John Fremont, who drove Mexican troops out
Forty Niners
...
Who searched for gold?
Who searched for gold?
Why is the Southwest so diverse?
English speaking settlers mixed with Mexican Americans, Native Americans, all of whom brought rich cultures with influenced life.
Mormons
...
Why did their Religious beliefs lead them to move west?
...
Brigham Young
...
Where did mormons settle?
...
Marcus and Narcissa Whitman
Missionaries, early settlers in Oregon, sent back glowing reports about Oregon Country which attracted settlers
Texas Fight for Independence
Texans fought against dictator Santa Anna; volunteers from the United States and other nations, as well as African Americans joined the fight led by Texan Sam Houson for Texas' Indpependence. Santa Anna continued to fight an marched North.
How did Polk get Oregon from British?
Polk did not want a war with Britain. Instead, he reached a compromise -- Oregon was divided as a latitude of 49 degrees. Britain got lands north of the line, and the US got the lands south of the line.
How did Polk get Texas from Mexico?
Texas had declared its independence from Mexico, and Texas signed a treaty of annexation with the US, but Congress refused to ratify the treaty, fearing war with Mexico. Sam Houston (president of the Republic of Texas) refused to give up. He pretended tha
Stephen Kearny
US General during War with Mexico who captured Santa Fe, then fought battles in San Diego, and won control of southern California