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Manifest Destiny is proclaimed.
Journalist John O'Sullivan coins the term Manifest Destiny. It is the belief that Americans are morally superior and should spread their lifestyle in order to free people such as the Native American tribes and the people of Mexico. -
Period: to
The Westward Expansion
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Congress passes measure to annex Texas.
After Polk was put in office Congress approved the anexation of Texas to the United States. This led to incresed tensions with Mexico. -
Texas is admitted to the United States as a state.
Texas joins the U.S. which soon causes war with Mexico. -
War with Mexico
President Polk recieved word that Mexican forces had ambushed Zachary Taylor. He asked congress to declare war and they did, reluctantly -
The Donner Party.
A party travelling to California follow a faulty guidebook and turn to cannibalism to survive. -
GOLD!
A gold strike is found in California and draws prospecters from all over the country. Many people come looking for gold but few find it. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is signed.
Texas, New Mexico, and California are ceded to the United States. The United States pays 15 million dollars to Mexico. -
Kansas Nebraska Act is passed.
This act created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska. It also opend up the debate of slavery by abolishing the Missouri Compromise line and leaving the decision of whether or not the territories want slaves up to popular sovergnity. -
Oregon territory becomes a state.
Oregon becomes a state. It has filled up due to the Oregon Trail. It holds great ports and good land for farming. -
Pony Express
The first ever of many relays using the pony express to transfer messages. This allows faster communtication for the west and the east.
