-
Texas Rebellion
The Texas Rebellion demanded independence of Texas from Mexico by the Americans because the Americans didn't like the forcefulness of the Mexican government. At that time, Mexico abolished slavery, so once the Texas declared independence from Mexico, slavery was made legal. The independence from Texas encouraged new migrants to settle in Texas because it wasn't under control of the Mexican government, and because slavery was made legal in that area. -
Period: to
Westward Expansion
Westward expansion was the expansion of the United States westward. The expansion occured through multiple purchases of land, treaties, war, and policies. The Manifest Destiny 1845, the Homestead Act of 1862, and the Kansas Nebraska Act, are examples of contributions to the Westward Expansion, and are also shown and descripted within this timeline. -
American Interest in Oregon
American interest in Oregon, which began in 1842, was due to many reasons. One would be the reports of "fine harbors", in particular areas such as Puget Sound. These harbors could be used for an increase in trade within the United States with Asia. Other reasons migrants had an increased interest and desire for Oregon was for it's mild climate and rich soil. -
Manifest Destiny
The Manifest Destiny was coined in 1845 by John L. O'Sullivan. It stated that the Euro-Americans were destined to settle the North American continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean. The Manifest Destiny encouraged settlers to move farther west. It also sums up westward expansion; in that it explains that it's inevitable that the US continues to expand west (and it-the US- did). (Shown, John L. O'Sullivan) -
Texas Annexation of 1845
Texas was admitted to the United States as the twenty eight state in 1845. Once Texas was officially apart of the US, American citizens became more likely to setlle in that area. Also, Texas (as a state) still allowed slavery, which encouraged the (deep) south to expand westward. -
Conscience Whigs
Conscience Whigs were part of the Whig party. This particular party accused James K. Polk of waging war with Mexico to add new slave states to the United States. This relates to westward expansion because, generally, the Conscience Whigs opposed westward expansion, for fear of the addition of more slave states to the United States. (Shown, Charles Francis Adams, a Conscience Whig). -
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush of 1848 began in the Sierrra Nevada foothills. Once word of gold spread, Americans from Monterey and San Francisco, CA flooded into the foothills. Eventually, Indians, Californios, Australians, Mexicans, and Chileans also began populating the area. By the end of 1849, around 80,000 settlers arrived in California seeking gold, further expanding the western region of the United States. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was a treaty made between Mexico and the US. The terms of the treaty were as follows; The United States of America paid Mexico $15 million in return fro 1/3 of Mexicp's territory. The US gained the present day states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and half of Colorado. This opened up even more territory for westward migrants to settle into, encouraging a larger part of the US to move westward. -
Oregon Donation Land Claim Act
The Oregon Donation Land Claim Act granted farm size plots of free land to settlers who took up residence in Oregon before 1854. This act made Oregon seem more desirable to potential westward migrants, causing an increased number of migrants to Oregon. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
The Kansas Nebraska Act organized the central plains in terms of slavery (Stephen Douglas). It allowed for popular sovereignty of slavery in the Kansas and Nebraska territories (appealing to the South). But the reason it appealed to the North is how this act contributed to westward expansion. The reason it appeals to the North and westward expansion is that it built the transcontinental railroad from Chicago to San Francisco, allowing for increased transportation from the midwest, to the west. -
Homestead Act
The Homestead Act of 1862 encouraged white settlers to move west because it gave farmsteads to settlers for free. This act stemmed from Thomas Jefferson's policies of decreasing the price of land to $1.25. So, this act encouraged westward expansion because it made it more affordable for the new migrants going west.
