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Expanding Democracy
The presidential election of 1824 pitted John Quincy Adams, the current secretary of state and son of John Adams, against Andrew Jackson, who, as you may remember, fought in the War of 1812. The two candidates embodied the regional differences that divided the country. Adams represented the businessmen of the East. -
Debating States' Rights
In the early years of Andrew Jackson’s presidency, regions of the country were having trouble compromising. In particular, the Northeast and the South disagreed over tariffs, which are taxes a foreign country charges on its imported goods. The Northeast welcomed tariffs. -
President of the People?
About 30,000 people witnessed his inauguration in March 1829. But he endured the ceremony with a heavy heart. During the campaign, some of the mudslinging had been directed at his wife’s reputation. -
The Trail of Tears
In an 1823 decision, Johnson v. M’Intosh, the Supreme Court had offered some protection for Native American lands. So, in 1832, the Cherokee turned to the Supreme Court to seek legal means to stay on their land. The Court ruled in their favor, determining that the Indian Removal Act was unconstitutional and that it violated previous treaties with the Cherokee. -
The Tejanos
In the early 1800s, some westward-bound Americans ended up in Spanish territory. What we know today as the state of Texas used to be the Spanish territory called Tejas (TAY-hahs). -
Native American Resistance
The Seminole were among the Native Americans who refused to leave their homes. They lived near the Everglades, a large wetlands region in southern Florida. After the Seminole rejected a removal treaty, President Jackson and the federal government declared war on them in 1835. But it didn’t turn out to be an easy fight. -
A New Party System
THE ELECTION OF 1840
As the 1840 presidential election approached, the Whigs believed they had a good chance of winning it. Many Americans blamed the country’s economic woes on Van Buren and seemed ready for a change. The Whigs nominated William Henry Harrison of Ohio as their candidate for president and John Tyler of Virginia as his running mate. -
The Second Great Awakening
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Pioneers and Native Americans
Pioneers heading west usually traveled in groups of covered wagons called wagon trains. No matter the destination, the journey was grueling and took several months. Wagon trains crossed rivers and mountains as well as arid lands where water and vegetation were scarce. The long days demanded difficult chores and wearying travel. -
Trails to the West
The story of one of the most important trails to the West begins in 1821, the year that Mexico won its independence from Spain. Under Spanish rule, trade with the United States had been heavily restricted. Mexico was eager to support individual land ownership and trade with the United States. -
Independence and Annexation
After the Texas War for Independence, Texas became an independent nation, the Republic of Texas. Texans elected Sam Houston as their first president. The flag of Texas, with a single star, earned the nation the nickname of Lone Star Republic. -
The Spanish and Mexicans in California
As you have read, Spanish conquistadors first explored and claimed the area that is now California in the 16th century. The Spanish were slow to settle in California. The colonial government considered California too far north from its base in Mexico for the region to be a priority. -
The United States at War
Despite some Americans’ opposition to the Mexican-American War, the United States had the upper hand from the start. On August 18, 1846, General Stephen Kearny and his troops marched into Santa Fe, the capital of the New Mexico Territory. -
The Gold Rush
By the late 1840s, Sutter’s Fort had become a thriving farm community. Various new projects were underway, including the construction of a sawmill upstream on the American River. You might recall from the American Story in this chapter that this was where workers spotted a few flecks of gold on January 24, 1848. -
The Pull of the West
Another mountain man who explored the Sierra Nevada was Jim Beckwourth. He had been born into slavery but was set free when he was 25. In 1850, he discovered a mountain pass through the Sierra Nevada for settlers to follow as they traveled to northern California.