15.

4 Texas
Why Was Texas So Valuable?
• Because it was well suited for cotton growing
 Which Americans Came to Texas?

• The Mexican government allowed Stephen

Austin to start an American colony in Texas so
long as he only chose families that were moral
and hardworking.
 Why Was There Tension?

American Complaints Tejano complaints:

• Mexican officials
• all documents in Spanish
• Mexico outlawed slavery in
1829.
• Many settlers came illegally
• had no intention of
becoming citizens.
• Mexico closed Texas to
further immigration
 The Texans Rebel
• Austin went to Mexico to present the dictator, Santa Ana,
with the Texans demands to become their own Mexican state.

• Austin was thrown in jail for inciting rebellion.

• 1835, Texans rise up in revolt. Santa Ana sends 6,000 troops
to crush the rebellion.
 What Happened at the Alamo?

• 1836, in San Antonio 180 Texans take over an old

church.
• Santa Ana’s men outnumbered the Texans 10:1. They
surrounded the Alamo. After 12 days of bombardment,
the troops stormed the church and killed all 180 men.
• For this, the Texans were filled with rage.
The Alamo
 Texas Wins Its Independence

• Sam Houston, commander of Texas Army, lured Santa

Ana deep into Texas. Houston launched surprise
attack and overran the Mexican army.
• Santa Ana was captured and ordered all remaining
troops out of Texas: Texas wins their independence.
 To Annex Texas or Not?

• Texas (The Lone Star Republic) remained

independent for 10 years.
• Southerners wanted to add Texas as a slave state,
Northerners didn’t. Some feared annexation
would mean war w/ Mexico.
• After Polk was elected, congress voted to annex
Texas as the 28th state.
 15.5 Oregon Country
Who owned Oregon?
• Britain and the United States both laid claim
to the territory, so they agreed to a “joint
occupation” of Oregon.
 Who Discovered Oregon?

• Lewis and Clark discovered Oregon in 1806.

Soon after, Jedediah Smith discovered a route
through the Rocky Mts. that pioneers could
travel.
 Why Were Pioneers Moving to Oregon?

• Exaggerated tales of how awesome Oregon

was (trees, farms, sunshine) brought 1,000
pioneers in 1843. Many more followed in the
ensuing years.
 All of Oregon or Half?

• The U.S. took half of the

Oregon country. Polk didn’t
want to risk starting a war
with G.B. so he settled on a
compromise treaty that was
ratified by the Senate.
• G.B. would get the half
north of the 49th parallel,
U.S. would get the southern
half.
The Compromise
 15.6 War with Mexico
What’s in Mexico?
• Polk wanted to expand the United States from coast
to coast. All he needed to do that, was the California
and New Mexico territory.
• The Mexican government refused to sell the territory.
 Why Did War Break Out?

• The annexation of Texas caused tension

between the U.S. and Mexico. They couldn’t
agree on a border.
• April 1846, Mexican soldiers fired on
Americans patrolling the Rio Grande, killing 16
Americans.
• 2 days later, Congress declared war on Mexico.
How Did We Take Control of California and
New Mexico?
• Gen. Kearney occupied New Mexico without firing a shot.
• Explorer J.C. Freemont led a rebellion against Mexican
rule in California. Mexican commander of California was
arrested and jailed. Raised the Bear Flag Republic flag.
• Kearney met up w/ the rebels and California was under
American control.
 U.S. Invades Mexico

• Zach Taylor moved south into Mexico w/ 6,000

troops. He was met by General Santa Ana
who had 20,000 troops in 1847 in Buena Vista.
Santa Ana retreated south.
• Gen. Winfield Scott fought his way to Mexico
City, and captured the city.
 What was the Treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo?
• 1848, it was the treaty that ended the war.
Mexico agreed to give up Texas and an area
known as the Mexican Cession.
• The U.S. paid Mexico $15 million and agreed
to protect the 100,000 Mexicans living in the
territory.
 What was the Gadsden Purchase?

• 1853, the U.S. wanted a strip of land south of

Arizona because it was perfect for a railroad
route. We bought it for $10 milllion.