12. Westward Expansion
I. Gradual Expansion of Frontier – Each addition adds to slavery issue, moves frontier, Indian problems
A. Proclamation of 1763 – Colonists not west of Appalachians – annoys colonists
B. Treaty of 1783 – Britain gives US land to Mississippi
C. 1803 - Louisiana Purchase – Napoleon realizes he can’t keep French empire - $15 mil
i. Brings up issue of constitutionality of president purchasing land
ii. Lewis and Clarke – ecology, Native Americans, surveying, claiming Oregon
1. Open up westward movement
D. 1820s-1830s – Texas – Mexico encourages movement – $.12 per acre – become Catholic
i. After Santa Anna – Alamo – country Republic of Texas
ii. Not annexed right away – fear it would be broken into many slave states
E. 1847 – Utah – Mormons – organized voting block/feared for organization – kicked out
F. 1846 – Polk – 54 40 or Fight! – extend America into Canada above Washington
i. America can’t fight Mexico and Britain – agree to make boundary above Wash.
G. 1946-1848 – Mexican War – looks like land grabbing – Zachary Taylor creates catalyst
i. Defeats Mexico City – Guadalupe Hidalgo gives Southwest – 1848 Gold discover
II. Transportation
A. Turnpikes – toll roads – 1812-1825
B. Cumberland Road – federal road – 1806-1850 connects Midwest to Virginia
C. Canal Building – 1825-1840 – Erie Canal starts
i. 1 ton of goods now for 1 cent per mile not 20 cents per mile
ii. Takes away farming from Northeast – moves to Midwest
iii. People can now move to Midwest and get supplies still to Atlantic Ocean
D. Steamboat – 1810-1840 – up and down rivers – not mercy of wind
E. Railroads – bought by federal government, made privately
i. Faulty creation, corruption, accidents of both railroads and steamship building
F. Mail – 1896 – finally mailbox delivery – before if rural must go to post office
G. Morse/Telegraph – 1844 – “What hath God wrought?” DC > Baltimore – Samuel Morse
III. Towns – build city infrastructure first, people come later
A. Balloon frame + nails – quick building
B. Wagons – families come out – Oregon Trail – leave Independence, MO – near St. Louis
C. Passing of frontier after Civil War
D. Buffalo slaughter – 15 million down to 1 thousand – sport – destroys Native American lives
E. Mining towns – boom bust – Northwest territories – become ghost towns – no other source of income – minerals gone, town gone
i. Women gain equality here first – state voting first – have power supply/demand
F. Cattle drives big until fenced in – changes American landscape
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