Emmanuel Leutze, "Westward the Course of Empire"(1861).
Smithsonian American Art Museum
I. Background of U.S. Foreign Policy
B. Jefferson's frustrations with the Tripolitan pirates (1801-1804)
C. Monroe Doctrine (1823) signaling America's emergence as a power strong enough to prevent European meddling in western hemisphere's affairs
II. Causes of American Expansion in 1830s and 1840s
2) Effects of the Panic of 1837
B. Psychological factors--manifest destiny
C. Attractive regions--east Texas, California, Oregon
D. Advertising the West
2) Mountain men--fur trappers and traders
III. Texas
B. Mexican independence led to restrictions (slavery prohibited)
C. Texans remained loyal to US but became increasingly frustrated by Mexican rule
D. Santa Anna abolished local rule and set up himself as dictator (1835)
2) Alamo--defeat of Texan forces
3) San Jacinto--Mexicans defeated, Santa Anna captured, Texas independence recognized by Mexico
E. Jackson refused to annex Texas
F. Texas admitted to Union in 1845
IV. Oregon Territory
B. "54 40 or Fight"
C. Oregon Treaty (1846) set boundary at 49th parallel
V. Mexican-American War (see chart for battles and details)
2. Mexican grievances against the U.S.
3. Snub of the Slidell mission to buy New Mexico and California
4. Nueces/Rio Grande River dispute
B. Opposition to the war
2. Enlistments from northeast and southeast were low because of unpopularity of war
3. Thoreau's statement of civil disobedience
C. Campaigns
2. California
3. Mexico City
D. Results
b) Texas border at Rio Grande accepted
c) U.S. pays Mexico $15 million
2. Renewal of slavery conflict
b) Southerners (led by Calhoun) stated that Congress had no right to restrict slavery's expansion.
Feldmeth, Greg D. "U.S. History Resources"
http://home.earthlink.net/~gfeldmeth/USHistory.html (31 March 1998).
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