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Onate explores New Mexico and claims it for Spain
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Sante Fe is set up. It would soon grow into a bustling trade town
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Captain Gaspar de Portola and Father Junipero Serra build string of 21 missions, including San Francisco and San Diego, along Californian coast
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Great Britain and the United States decided to jointly administer Oregon Country
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Oregon is jointly controlled by US and UK
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Mountain men explore Oregon's mountains
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The Spanish government grants a tract of land in Texas to Moses Austin. He dies before he can ever get there, but the tract is settled by his son Stephan.
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Mexico gains independence from Spain. This changes the face of who America deals with in the southwest
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Joseph Smith creates the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints. He attracted many followers to his faith
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Santa Anna takes over Mexico and suspends the constitution. He also sends in troops to force Texians to convert to Catholicism and ban slavery
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Texians expel troops in Gonzales. This battle marks the start of the Texas war of Independence
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Texas rebels against Mexico. The unrest started when Mexico started imposing unpopular laws in Texas. Laws like being in the Roman Catholic Church, and laws banning slavery. When Mexico sent troops, Texas revolted and won their independence from Mexico
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Marcus and Narcissa Whitman set up shop in Oregon. Their help open Oregon for settlemnt
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The whitmans, operating out of their mission, assist settlers and convert natives
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Texas declares that Mexico can no longer make rules for them. This puts them one step closer to joining the US
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Santa Anna is captured by the Texan forces in this decisive battle. He is forced to sign a treaty recognizing Texas
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Mormons form Nauvoo on the banks of the Mississippi River in Illinois after they were expelled from New York for their controversial beliefs
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Oregon trail opens, with wagon trains departing from Independence, MO and going towards Oregon City and the Willamette River Valley
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Angry townsfolk around Nauvoo kill Joseph Smith, the leader of the Mormons
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Texas is annexed by the US as a slave state. This leads to the Mexican American war
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The US declares war on Mexico, starting the Mexican American War
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Mexico and US clash over disputed territories and the American wish to expand Westward
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Oregon Country is split between the US and the UK at the 49th Parallel.
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Brigham Young, the new leader of the Mormons, leads 15000 people over several years starting in 1847, to would would become Utah
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American forces beat a mexican army twice their size
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Americans capture vital caribbean port
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Americans capture Mexico City, making American victory inevitable
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James Marshall discovers gold on Sutter's Mill. This starts the California Gold Rush
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Thousands of people from all over the world flock to California to mine the gold. However, many do not find gold and are forced to stay. This kickstarts population growth in California
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Mexico surrenders. US pays $15 million for California and New Mexico
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US Government recognizes Utah's Mormon government as the ruling government in the territory
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California is admitted as a free state. The population surge was due to the gold rush
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The US buys some land off Mexico to build a railroad. After this, many believe that Manifest Destiny is complete