Transcript Unit 5: A Changing Nation

The Texas Revolution (Sec. 2)

Main idea:
– Conflicts between
American settlers and
the government of
Mexico led Texas to
revolt and win
independence from
Mexico in 1836.
Changes in Spanish Texas
Key Question: How did American
settlers cause problems in Texas?
 Tejas – present day Texas

– Lush forests
– Plains
– Rich soil
People of Spanish
heritage were called

Tejanos
American Settlers in Texas

Empresarios
– Spanish government granted
these people land in Tejas
– People who agreed to find
settlers for the land

Stephen F. Austin
– American Dream was to
establish a colony in Spanish
Texas
Rising Tensions in Texas
Americans resented Mexican laws
 Some of these laws included:

– Settlers to become members of the Roman
Catholic Church
– Pay taxes to Mexican government
– Slavery was outlawed
– Closed its borders to new American settlers

American settlers were unwilling to adapt
to these laws.
What does this lead to?
Texas Revolution
Key Question: What
events led to Texas’
independence from
Mexico?
 Primary Cause:
Differences over
citizenship, policies,
and laws set forth by
the Mexican President
Santa Anna

Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
(Mexican President)
War Begins
Texans wanted to be a selfgoverning state within Mexico
 Santa Anna jailed Steven
Austin for almost a year for
advocating Texas
independence
 Texans declare independence
(March of 1836) and place
Sam Houston in charge of the
Army

Sam Houston
(Texas Army)
Battle of The Alamo

Battle of the Alamo (along
Mexican Supply route)
– Americans HEAVILY
outnumbered- Led by William
Travis, Former Congressman Davy
Crockett and Frontiersman Jim
Bowie
– Texans held off the Mexican Army
for almost two weeks
– Mexican Victory
– Almost all died in the fight and
the survivors were executed
– Bought valuable time for Houston
to gather and army
The Alamo
Victory at San Jacinto

“Remember
the Alamo!”
and
“Remember
Goliad!”
(Goliad was
similar to the
Alamo) – this
became the
battle cry
In just 18 minutes, the Texans led by Sam
Houston killed more than half of the Mexican
army.
Significance: Texas became an independent
nation
Texas Revolution Map
Republic of Texas
Nicknamed the Lone Star
Republic
 Sam Houston elected
president
 Texas asked Congress to
annex Texas to the Union
 Congress voted against
annexation-it would have
thrown off the Free/Slave
balance in the Congress

Lone Star Republic flag
The War with Mexico (Sec. 3)

Main Idea: Victory in a
war with Mexico allowed
Americans to expand the
nation across the continent.

President James K. Polk
–
–
–
–
Governor of Tennessee
“Dark Horse” in 1844 election
11th president of the U.S.
Committed to national
expansion
Americans Support Manifest
Destiny

Many Americans felt it was fate or “God’s plan”
to expand the U.S. across the continent from
ocean to ocean

This was bound to happen – even if it meant
pushing Mexicans and Native Americans out
of the way
Primary Source Quote
“Our manifest destiny [is] to overspread the
continent allotted [given] by Providence
[God] for the free development of our
yearly multiplying millions.”
- John O’Sullivan, the Annals of America, Vol
7
“Fifty-four forty or fight!”
54°40’N latitude was
the northern
boundary of the
shared Oregon
Territory
 Manifest Destiny
became government
policy under Polk

Oregon Territory Treaty
The United States
and Great Britain
agreed to divide
Oregon at the
49th parallel.
 Today, this line
still serves as the
border between
much of the
United States and
Canada

Troubles with Mexico
In 1845, Congress annexed Texas as a
slave state.
 This caused an imbalance in the free and
slave states.
 Mexico still claimed Texas as its own and
would not accept payment of $30 Million
 Mexico viewed this annexation as an act
of war.
 Mexicans and Texans had border disputes
(Rio Grande River and Nueces River)

The War with Mexico
Polk sent General Zachary
Taylor led troops into the
disputed territory hoping to
cause war. Mexico attacks.
 General Stephen Kearny
captured New Mexico without
firing a shot by taking his
troops down the Santa Fe trail
and occupying Santa Fe (the
capitol of “New Mexico”

The Republic of California

Bear Flag Revolt
– General John C. Frémont led
American rebels.
– They easily defeated the
few Mexican troops declared
independence from Mexico.
– California Republic formed in
June 1846
The Fighting in Mexico
General (and future
President) Taylor’s troops
(4,800) defeated Santa
Anna’s troops (15,000) in
Monterrey in northern
Mexico
 General Winfield Scott
defeated the Mexicans at
Mexico City 1848 within 6
months of invading Veracruz
 He forces the signing of the
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

“Grand Old Man of the Army”
Impact of Victory
Manifest Destiny is complete.
 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

– Recognized that Texas was part of the U.S.
– Agreed to the Rio Grande as the border
between the two nations
– Gave up a vast region known as Mexican
cession – including Texas – amounting to
almost one-half of present-day Mexico (more
than 500,000 sq. mi)
Mexican Cession
Culturally Diverse
American settlers and Mexicans merged
and shared culture.
 Some Mexicans taught new settlers how
to develop the land for farming, ranching
and mining.
 A rich new culture resulted from the blend
of many cultures.

Gadsden Purchase
Mexicans sold one
last strip of land to
the United States for
$10 million.
 Now part of New
Mexico and Arizona
 U.S. wanted this land
for a southern
transcontinental
railroad

Manifest Destiny Map