Transcript Trail of Tears

To withdraw (in our case it means
to withdraw from the Union, or
United States)
To absorb
into a
culture
1830 law that
called for the
government to
negotiate treaties
requiring Native
Americans to
relocate west.
Forced removal of the Cherokee from their
homeland to Indian Territory. (Indian Territory
was present day Oklahoma and parts of Kansas
and Nebraska)
Legendary Trapper
who explored the West
and opened up the fur
trade.
Mountain men were a
group of trappers and
explorers who opened
up the western
pioneer trails.
Trail that began in Missouri and ended
in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Trail that ran westward from
Independence, Missouri, to the Oregon
Territory.
People who
buy land in
the hope that
it will
increase in
value.
 Jackson lost the first time he ran for President. His top
competitor was John Adams.
 John Adams had many plans for his presidency. He wanted
to build roads and canals, aid education and science, and
regulate the use of natural resources.
 Congress was led by people who supported Jackson and they
were bitter over his loss. They blocked Adam’s proposals to
help the country.
 Jackson won the second time around (1828) beating Adams
in a heated election.
 The country was being pulled apart at the time of Jackson’s
inauguration.
 Three major issues were being disputed
 1) Sale of public lands in the West
 2) Federal spending on internal improvements, such as roads and
canals
 3) Rising tariffs
 Westerners wanted land to be sold at low prices,
Northeasterners feared it would take people away from factory
jobs
 The South opposed rising tariffs, they relied on selling cotton to
England and elsewhere.
 Congress passed a bill that significantly raised tariffs on raw
materials.
 Southerners hated the new taxes.
 John C. Calhoun (vice president) came up with the doctrine of
nullification which allowed states to reject federal laws (the new
taxes).
 South Carolina threatens to secede and build its own army.
 When Jackson won his reelection in 1832, he made it clear that he
would use force to see that federal laws were obeyed and the Union
preserved.
 Henry Clay came up with another compromise that diffused the
situation.
1. Some whites hoped that Native Americans could
assimilate, or be absorbed into white culture.
2. Andrew Jackson supported a policy of moving Native
Americans west of the Mississippi River.
3. Jackson viewed Native Americans as conquered subjects
who lived within the borders of the United States.
4. Many Americans objected to Jackson’s removal proposal.
The government passed the Indian Removal Act.
1. Jackson immediately set out to enforce the Indian Removal Act. He
claimed his policy was “just and liberal”, his policy forever changed
relations between whites and Native Americans.
2. Many Native Americans saw no choice but to sign the treaties that
made them move.
3. Some Cherokees signed the treaty, but most refused to sign. U.S.
soldiers took people from their homes with nothing but the clothes
on their backs and forced them to make the long journey west in
the cold, rain, and snow. A quarter of the Cherokees died.
4. The Seminoles refused to leave Florida. They were led by Osceola
during the Second Seminole War. The Seminoles used surprise
attacks to beat the U.S. Osceola was later tricked into surrendering
and died in prison.
1. Mountain Men were among the early pioneers who explored beyond
the Rocky Mountains.
2. Jim Beckwourth became famous for his adventures and trapping
furs.
3. Many pioneers used the South Pass, a wide valley through the
Rockies in Wyoming.
4. Many people where lured West because they thought they could
make a lot of money.
1. The success of early pioneers convinced thousands of families and
individuals to make the dangerous journey west.
2. There were many trails leading west: Santa Fe Trail, Mormon Trail,
Oregon Trail, California Trail, and Old Spanish Trail.
3. Among the first settlers to go to Oregon were missionaries, their
reports of Oregon began to attract others.
4. Most pioneers went west in search of wealth, but one group
migrated for religious reasons. Mormons led by Brigham Young
moved west to escape religious intolerance. They made a new trial
into the Utah area near the Great Salt Lake.
 Describe Jackson’s policy toward Native Americans. How did
he treat them?
 What happened to the Native Americans when the Indian
Removal Act was implemented?
Belief that the U.S. was meant to expand from
coast to coast
U.S. general who led the battle over the
disputed territory of the Rio Grande
Treaty that ended the War with Mexico
Rebellion by Americans in 1846 against
Mexican rule of California
Mexican territory surrendered to the United
States at the end of the war with Mexico.
1.
Many Americans believed that it was the United States destiny to expand across
the continent from ocean to ocean. Manifest Destiny.
2.
Oregon Country became an area of contention between the U.S. and Britain.
James Polk promised to take over all of Oregon.
3.
Polk had a good reason for not fighting the British over Oregon Country because
bigger problems were rising with Mexico over Texas.
4.
In 1845, congress admitted Texas as a slave state despite Northern objection to
the spread of slavery.
5.
Mexico still owned Texas at the time and viewed the annexation as an act of war.
6.
Mexico said they would fight to defend its claim. Polk offered $30 million for
Texas, California, and New Mexico but it failed.
1.
Polk’s next strategy was force. He sent Zachary Taylor with 3,500 troops on the
north bank of the Rio Grande.
2.
Mexico ambushed an American Patrol and Congress declared war two days later.
3.
Americans had mixed reactions to the war. Southerners wanted to extend the
territory open to slavery, while Northerners feared the expansion of slavery.
4.
General Stephen Kearny took New Mexico, California, and moved south toward
Mexico.
5.
Americans in Northern California staged a revolt known as the Bear Flag Revolt,
U.S. troops joined forces with the rebels and took control of all of California
within weeks.
6.
Defeating Mexico proved difficult, but eventually Taylor defeated Santa Anna in
Northern Mexico. U.S. troops went on to take Mexico City and the war was over.
1. For Mexico the war meant poor relations with the U.S. For The
United States it mean the fulfillment of manifest destiny.
2. The war officially ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
3. Mexico recognized that Texas was part of the United States
4. Agreed to the Rio Grande being the border between the two nations
5. Gave up a vast region known as the Mexican Cession (California,
Nevada, Utah, Arizona)
6. In return, the U.S. promised to protect the 80,000 Mexicans living in
Texas and the Mexican cession.
7. The last bit of Arizona was sold to the U.S. for $10 million (Gadsden
Purchase)
Person who went to California to find
gold in 1849
Migration of thousands
of settlers to California
in search of gold
Movement of people from one country
or locality to another
Settlers of Spanish or Mexican descent
who populated California
1. Before the forty-niners came, California was populated by as many
as 150,000 Native Americans and 6,000 Californios.
2. James Marshall discovered gold while building a sawmill and it led
to one of the greatest migrations in American history.
3. In 1849, people raced to the American River to seek their fortune.
4. About 2/3 of forty-niners were Americans, most being white men.
5. Foreign miners came from Europe, South America, Australia, and
China.
6. Prices for basic supplies rose and actually acquiring gold was
brutally difficult work.
1. The rush peaked in 1852 and about 250,000 people flooded into
California.
2. California had enough people to apply for statehood and was
admitted as a free state in 1850.
3. Native Americans living in California were devastated by diseases
and people ruining rivers while panning for gold.
4. California passed a Foreign Miners Tax, which imposed a tax of $20 a
month on miners from other countries.
5. Driven from the mines, the Chinese opened shops, restaurants, and
laundries which became known as Chinatown in San Francisco.