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Annexation of Texas
Texas was annexed and became a part of the United States after requesting to become a part of the US. This did not sit well with the Mexican Government as they had long warned the US that if they annexed Texas they would declare war. -
The Mexican American War begins
After attempting to annex Texas the threats of Mexico going to war with the US became a reality and as the US desire for California increased this gave Mexico even more of a reason to go to war with us as they didnt want the US to gain the land in addition to Texas -
Gold was discovered at Sutters Mill
While building a saw mill James W Marshall noticed small flakes of metal in the water he was using from the south fork of the American River. He recognized them to be gold and soon word got out that California was a home for gold. This resulted in an even stronger urge for the US to want to acquire California -
The war with Mexico ends
Through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo the US won the Mexican American war being able to successfully annex Texas into the country as well as all land owned by Mexico between Texas and California. This included Arizona, New Mexico and parts of Utah, Wyoming, Nevada and Colorado -
Congress creates the Indian Appropriation Acts
Congress created these treaties which allocated funds funds to move western tribes onto reservations. These reservations would be protected by the US federal government and would keep these tribes from the encroachment of the white americans moving to the west -
The Kansas Nebraska Act was institued
The Kansas Nebraska Act stated that a new states ownsership on slaves to be decided by popular soveigrnty which meant that the state would vote on if they wanted to be considered a free or slave state. This lead to many pro and anti slave fights and would eventually be an influence to the Civil War -
The Homestead Act was Passed
The homestead act encouraged western migration by promising settlers 160 acres of public land. In return settlers would have to pay a small filing fee and were required to take 5 years of residence before they received the land. -
Union Pacific Railroad was authorized
A railroad that was authorized by congress as well as President Lincoln. The railroad connects to California Nebraska and Utah. It was built as a war measure to help in preserving the Union
