Chapter 13: Westward Expansion: 1820-1860
Unit Theme: Expansion
During the period from 1820 to 1860, from the Missouri Compromise to the eve of the Civil War, the United States grew in several ways. The most dramatic was in territorial expansion. By 1860, the United States stretched from sea to sea, from the Atlantic in the east, to the Pacific in the west. Added to the United States were California and Oregon in the west, and territories such as New Mexico and Arizona in the southwest. The area between the Mississippi River and California was also filling in with Americans determined to carve out a future on the Great Plains. Along with this growth in territory came an increase in industrial might. By 1860, the United States, led by the northern urban centers, was among the industrial powers of the world, poised to become the world’s economic powerhouse after the Civil War.
During the period from 1820 to 1860, from the Missouri Compromise to the eve of the Civil War, the United States grew in several ways. The most dramatic was in territorial expansion. By 1860, the United States stretched from sea to sea, from the Atlantic in the east, to the Pacific in the west. Added to the United States were California and Oregon in the west, and territories such as New Mexico and Arizona in the southwest. The area between the Mississippi River and California was also filling in with Americans determined to carve out a future on the Great Plains. Along with this growth in territory came an increase in industrial might. By 1860, the United States, led by the northern urban centers, was among the industrial powers of the world, poised to become the world’s economic powerhouse after the Civil War.
Essential Question: Was war with Mexico justified?
Chapter Overview:
Perhaps no idea in American history is more enduring than the notion of unchecked westward expansion that united the nation on two oceans. The drive to expand westward across the land was fired by what many Americas believed was the country's Manifest Destiny - the idea that the nation would stretch from sea to sea. The drive was not easy nor bloodless. Similar to the expansion that occurred in the southeast, the land was already occupied by Native Americans. Like earlier times, these tribes were subdued and overwhelmed by the relentless push of white people to the West. Large chunks of the territory was either claimed or owned outright by other nations. California and the southwest was owned by Mexico and was won by Americans in war. The Oregon territory, which included much of the present-day states of Washington, Idaho, Montana, and part of Canada, was claimed at one time by Spain and Russia as well as the U.S. and Britain. Eventually America and Britain worked out an agreement to divide the territory just before the U.S. went to war with Mexico.
Just before the end of the Mexican-American War, gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill near San Francisco. The news set off a rush of people from around the world to seek their fortune in the gold fields of the American West. Most migrants would end up no richer than when they started out but the drive for wealth set off a population boom in California that would allow it to enter the Union in 1850, only two years after the United States had wrested it from Mexico. The influx of people from around the world, especially from the Far East, would set off a wave of ethnic tensions that would continue in California for decades in the mid to late 19th century.
Perhaps no idea in American history is more enduring than the notion of unchecked westward expansion that united the nation on two oceans. The drive to expand westward across the land was fired by what many Americas believed was the country's Manifest Destiny - the idea that the nation would stretch from sea to sea. The drive was not easy nor bloodless. Similar to the expansion that occurred in the southeast, the land was already occupied by Native Americans. Like earlier times, these tribes were subdued and overwhelmed by the relentless push of white people to the West. Large chunks of the territory was either claimed or owned outright by other nations. California and the southwest was owned by Mexico and was won by Americans in war. The Oregon territory, which included much of the present-day states of Washington, Idaho, Montana, and part of Canada, was claimed at one time by Spain and Russia as well as the U.S. and Britain. Eventually America and Britain worked out an agreement to divide the territory just before the U.S. went to war with Mexico.
Just before the end of the Mexican-American War, gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill near San Francisco. The news set off a rush of people from around the world to seek their fortune in the gold fields of the American West. Most migrants would end up no richer than when they started out but the drive for wealth set off a population boom in California that would allow it to enter the Union in 1850, only two years after the United States had wrested it from Mexico. The influx of people from around the world, especially from the Far East, would set off a wave of ethnic tensions that would continue in California for decades in the mid to late 19th century.
Sections:
1) Oregon Country (p. 346-350) 2) Texas Wins Independence (p. 351-355) 3) California & the Southwest (p. 356-359) 4) War With Mexico (p. 360-364) 5) A Rush to the West (p. 365-369) Resources: Chapter Self-Test Study Guide - Enriched Class Study Guide - General Classes U.S.A. Map Quiz Game |
Section Reviews:
These reviews are often given in class and are open-ended and T/F questions that you should definitely learn. They cover some of the most important points of the section and are often the basis of matching and T/F questions on quizzes and tests. |
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