Lesson 2: Oregon and Texas

Lesson Focus

Discover how American settlers in Oregon and Texas fueled the nation's westward expansion. This lesson explores their journeys, conflicts, and the political push for annexation, which ultimately reshaped the country's borders.

People to Know

Stephen Austin, Sam Houston, Santa Anna, Brigham Young, James K. Polk

Learning Objectives

• Describe the overland migrations to Oregon and Utah, focusing on the pioneers, mountain men, and Mormons who journeyed west.
• Explain why Texas sought independence from Mexico and how it eventually became part of the United States.

Profitable trade for sea otter furs first drew American ships like the Columbia to Oregon. This demand soon shifted to beaver pelts, leading to fierce competition among fur companies.

Rugged trappers known as mountain men explored deep into the wilderness to find furs. Pay special attention to how their search for profit unintentionally mapped the best passes and river crossings, paving the way for future settlers to follow on their journey west.

In the 1830s, glowing reports of fertile soil from missionaries like Marcus and Narcissa Whitman sparked “Oregon Fever.”

This inspired thousands of pioneers to undertake the long, dangerous journey west on the Oregon Trail in covered wagons.

By 1843, so many Americans had arrived that they formed their own government, signaling their clear intention for the United States to claim the territory from Great Britain and shifting the balance of power.

To escape intense religious persecution after their leader Joseph Smith was killed in 1844, the Mormons sought a safe refuge outside the U.S.

Led by Brigham Young, they began a difficult migration in 1847 to the Great Salt Lake in Mexican territory. They built a thriving community using irrigation, but ironically, the land became part of the U.S. in 1848 following the war with Mexico, the very country they had tried to leave.

American settlers in Texas clashed with the Mexican government, which was alarmed by their numbers, their use of slavery, and their failure to adopt Mexican customs.

When General Santa Anna became a dictator in 1833, Texans led by Sam Houston rebelled. After the famous defeat at the Alamo in 1836, the Texans won a decisive victory, capturing Santa Anna and securing independence for the Lone Star Republic.

The Election of 1844 made expansion the main issue, leading to the victory of dark horse candidate James K. Polk.

Viewing his win as a mandate, Congress annexed Texas as a state in 1845. This action created a high risk of war with Mexico. To avoid fighting two wars at once, Polk's administration compromised with Great Britain, dividing Oregon at the 49th parallel in 1846, despite the campaign slogan “Fifty-four forty or fight!”