Trail of Tears and Ch 21 the Culture Clash in the Southwest

Cherokee Nation

• Cherokee had their own government• Sequoyah created a writing system and an

alphabet for the Cherokees• Schools were created to learn Sequoyahs

alphabet• Cherokee and other Native Americans

wanted to live in peace with white neighbors

Cont Cherokee and Trail of Tears• Cherokee land was very good for growing

cotton and GOLD was discovered• This made white settlers want land even more

and go against the Cherokee• Jackson (president) supported the settlers and

put in place the Indian Removal Act• This act said all Native Americans had to move

west of the Mississippi. Called Indian Territory

Cont of cherokee

• Cherokee went to Supreme Court, won, but Jackson went against their decision and make them move

Trail of Tears

• Native Americans were taken out by soldiers and put in prison camps.

• Leaders tried to guide men to Indian Territory

• Thousands died along the way from frostbite and hunger.

Ch 21 Cultures Class in the Southwest

• Settlers landed in Texas in 1821 led by Stephen Austin

• Austin had been granted land, Mexicans wanted new settlers so everyone was happy

Texas becomes and Independent Republic

• Tejanos –spanish speaking residents• The tejanos welcomed the new settlers• If the settlers stayed in Texas they had to become Mexican

citizens, become Roman Catholic and obey Mexican law• Settlers came by the hundreds and soon outnumbered the tejanos• Settlers changed and would no longer follow Mexican rules.• The settlers felt superior to the tejanos• Mexican government tried to slow immigration of the US

settlers• The Mexican government outlawed immigration but settlers still

came to Texas

Texas Rebellion

• General Antonio Lopez de Santa became dictator of Mexico

• He threw out the Mexican constitution and cause settlers and some tejanos to rebel

• Mexicans fought rebels at the Alamo• After 41 days Mexicans surrendered• Santa Anna’soldiers retaliatied and took back

the Alamo and several Texans were put to death

Republic of Texas

• Rebels declared independence of Mexico

• Created Republic of Texas

• Santa Anna was forced to sign a treaty and recognize their independence

US AND MEXICO GO TO WAR

• Treaty did not bring peace, more fighting over boundaries

Annexing Texas

• Most settlers wanted to be part of the US and the US wanted to annex or add Texas

• Mexico said they couldn’t be part of US and would declare war so for 9 years Texas stayed independent.

• US also wanted California and New Mexico to extend their borders to the Pacific

• Polk was president and supported expansion and Congress annexed Texas.

• Mexico was mad but didn’t declare war

The road to war

• Polk offered Mexico 30 Million for California and New Mexico

• Mexico refused

War breaks out

• Polk sent troops to Rio Grande, knew it would start war

• Mexico fought back and war was declared• Us attacked from 3 sides: Rio Grande, California

and coast of Mexico at Vera Cruz• US defeated all three areas and marched to Capital

of Mexico City• Chapultepec Castle (military Academy) was taken

under attack, all cadets fought but all were killed and US took it over.

Peace Treaty

• Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed between US and Mexico

• Gave US almost half of Mexicos land, now called Mexican Cession

• US had to promise to treat Mexicans who already lived in that land fairly

• US said they would and the Mexicans in that land would have all US rights. This was not always kept.