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Spain Settles New Mexico
New Mexico was the oldest colony along New Spain's northwestern fronteir. Most lived on farms and ranches along the Rio Grande Valley. Colonists depended on protection from the local Pueblo Indians because of great war threat from nomadic Native Americans. -
Mission Thrive in California
Spanish leasers wanted to convert Indians to Christianity. Father Junipero Serra led Franciscan priests to set up a string of missions, which were more successful in California than in Texas or New Mexico. When Spanish rule ended, there were about 20 missions housing more than 18,000 Native American converts, who constructed buildings and fences, herded cattle, and grew grain. -
Americans Trade with Mexico
Mexican Independence made American trade favorable with northern Mexico. Trade and migration promoted economic growth, which Mexican officials liked even though Indians did not. The Sante Fe Trail was a road that launched a growing commerce among the Great Plains that exchanged American manufactured goods for New Mexican horses, mules, furs, and silver. -
Mountain Men Cross the Rockies
Daring young American trappers who hunted beaver pels in the rockies ventured up the Missouri Rv. and into the Rockies, called Mountain Men. While making their way along the beste path, via South Pass in present day Wyoming, they made important discoveries. Jedediah Smith crossed the Great Basin and Sierra Nevada to reach CA and traded with Mexican residents, which his path eventually became the California Trail. -
Americans Migrate to Texas
Mexico allowed American immagrants to texas if they agreed to thier bargain, so Stephen F. Austin led emigrants to settle east of San Antonio, founding Austin. Tension build as Anglo-Texan did not follow their bargain and wanted greater autonomy. Lone Star Republic emerged when Texans rebelled and declared thier indpendence. -
Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail was made by Marcus and Whitman to find an Indian Mission at Walla Walla. Most emigrants on this trail were farmers and their final destination was the fertile land at Willamette Valley. In 1847, Whitmans were killed by Native Americans who blamed them for the measle spread, but the expansion to Oregon was impossible. -
Alamo
A place in Texas where a small army of US battled a big army of Mexicans.Santa Anna raided Alamo walls and slaughtered prisoners. "Remembe the Alamo" is a Texan slogan used to honor their brave efforts. -
John C. Fremont Expedition
An official government expedition led by John C. Fremont was set across the western country which were followed by trails made from Mountain Men and the Whitmans. The beginning of the project was in the springtime at western edge of MO and convered about 2,000 miles and took 5 months to complete, consiting of an oxen pulling emigrants wodden wagons in groups of 10-100 wagons from 50 to 1,000 people. Emigrants were eager to get to fertile and humid Pacific while they faced hunger and disease. -
Expansion Debate
Sam Houston was Texan first president and quickly asked US to annex Texas, which was favored by President Jackson. Annexation of Texas was a key issue in 1844 elecetion bw Jakes K. Polk, who favored Manifest Destiny, and Whig canidate Henry Clay. Polk promised land of Oregon if people voted for him, which was granted. -
Mexican-American War
Polk wanted to claim Texan land south and west of Nueces Rv., outraging the Mexicans. Many whigs did not support the war because they feared California and New Mexico would enter the US as slave states, although the South had many supporters for the war. The US had more advantages in the war compared to Mexicans. War ended in American victory winning every major battle, completing all goals, and capturing Mexico City. -
Wilmot Proviso
Whig Congressman David Wilmot proposed a law that would ban slavery in any lands won from Mexico. This proposal broke unity and divied congoress along sectional lines. Northern Democrats joined norther whigs and southern democrats joined southern whigs. The law passed House of Reps., but not Senate. -
Forth-Niners Rush to California
Known as the California Gold Rush, 80,000 people head west for riches traveling by lands and ships. Miners used cheap metala pans and shovels to harvest gold flecks, known as placer mining. Conditions were hard in the mining camps, diseases were promoted and competitions and fights were often. -
Mormons Move West
Leader of the Mormons, Brigham Young, organized a exodus. He led Mormons across the Great Plains and the Rockies to est. the colony of New Zion on the eastern shore of the Great Salt Lake. With hard work and cooperation about 40,000 Mormons lived in the west. Americans continued to distrust thier work and the gov'nt forced to accept federal authority, -
Indians and Mexicans Face Discrimination
Miners terrorized and killded Native Americans and many surviving indians became worker on farms and ranches. Mexican Americans drove out because of mob violence from gold fields. Those who stayed had to pay miner tax, even though they were in California long before the Americans. -
California seeks Statehood
California wanted to enter the union, so their leaders drew up a convention excluding African Americans, both slave and free. Miners did not want blacks to live in California. Their application stood between the North and South.
