Mainfest Destiny

Manifest destiny was the belief that the United States was predestined to expand to the Pacific Ocean and into Mexican and Native American territory. Many Americans believed that this destiny was manifest, or obvious and inevitable.

Most Americans had practical reasons for moving west during the mid-1800s. Among them were the abundance of land, and personal economic problems in the East. Settlers and traders began to establish trails to the West, such as the Oregon Trail, Santa Fe Trail, and Mormon Trail.

As America expanded westward, national boundaries were defined by agreements with other countries. Some of them were peaceful; others were not. Britain and the US would created the northern boundary of the United States at the 49th parallel in 1846 without much conflict. The boundary in the southwest with Mexico would not be established so peacefully.

The colony established in Texas by Mexican invitation would eventually come into conflict with Mexico's government after the initial cooperation. Mexico had abolished slavery; however, the American settlers who came brought slaves with them. The American settlers spoke English instead of Spanish. Tensions rose, and Mexico clamped down on the freedom of the settlers. Rebellions broke out. Determined to force Texas to obey Mexican law, the Mexican president marched his army towards San Antonio. The Texans won freedom from Mexico in the Treaty of Velasco, 1846.

As Texas moved toward annexation into the United States, the Mexican government took it badly, especially with the US siding with Texas with all territory disputes. When Mexico refused the attempt at negotiation for the southern border of Texas, the US provoked Mexico into attacking the US soldiers. War was officially declared. Mexico lost battle after battle, and was eventually was forced to concede New Mexico, and California in 1848. The Texas border was also redefined as the Rio Grande River.