Curated OER
A Century of Expansion: America's Destiny (1763-1867)
How did we grow into such a large nation? Follow the events, wars, and treaties that led to the acquisition of major states as we expanded into the West. The slides provide maps, dates, and simplistic information to help learners...
Curated OER
The Brief American Pageant: Manifest Destiny and its Legacy
Frame your lecture about Manifest Destiny around these maps, which portray the extended boundaries of various American territories in the 19th century. Campaigns of the Mexican War, and a map of the Spanish Missions on the West Coast are...
Curated OER
Chapter 12: American History
Short and to the point, these slides cover some basic points about life in 19th centrury America. Topics such as Texas Independence, the California Gold Rush, and the Oregon Territory are briefly mentioned, and some of the facts are hard...
Curated OER
Alamo
Learners access a variety of Alamo and Mexican-American War related resources on the Internet. They take a 360 degree virtual tour of the Alamo site, view photos and timelines, read first-person accounts, and view the flags from the...
Library of Congress
Loc: Major Events in History: The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
A synopsis of the events preceding the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, plus great pictures and links to excellent maps of the area negotiated for and to the text of the actual document.
Henry J. Sage
Sage American History: Expansion and War: The United States 1840 1860
Article on the era of westward expansion and the resulting Mexican American War. The author demonstrates how Manifest Destiny and frontier settlement led to the annexation of Texas and ultimately war with Mexico over the territory.
Henry J. Sage
Sage American History: Texas From American Settlement to Annexation 1820 1845
Article in which the author takes us through the history of Texas from the time Americans arrived and settled in the area to annexation, and finally, war with Mexico over the territory. With photographs and links to related resources.
Henry J. Sage
Sage American History: The Republic of Texas and the Mexican American War
Article on the history of Texas framed in a discussion of Spanish colonization to help readers better understand events leading to the Mexican-American War. With bullet pointed facts and links to primary source material.
![Virginia History Series: Virginia Antebellum (1800 1860) [Pdf] PPT](https://d15y2dacu3jp90.cloudfront.net/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "Virginia History Series: Virginia Antebellum (1800 1860) [Pdf] PPT")
Virginia History Series
Virginia History Series: Virginia Antebellum (1800 1860) [Pdf]
From 1800-1860, America went through rapid growth and development. View this slideshow to see pictures, charts, maps,primary source documents and a detailed timeline of Virginia during the Antebellum Era.
Other
Kentucky Historical Society: Kentucky Military Treasures
A collection of personal stories, illustrated with artifacts, documents, and photographs, that exemplifies the military experiences of Kentuckians in America's wars, beginning with the War of 1812. Requires Adobe Flash.
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Stephen F. Austin
Read this short biography of Stephen F. Austin, complete with links to primary documents involving the empresario known as "The Father of Texas."
US National Archives
National Archives: The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Was the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo a fair compromise to end the Mexican-American War? Students will dissect sections of the treaty to summarize and formulate a conclusion to that question.
University of Virginia
Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: Zachary Taylor: A Life in Brief
As part of the excellent site about Zachary Taylor and his life and presidency from the Miller Center, this article gives you a look at Taylor's life in brief, focusing on his military career, and the politics of slavery that affected...
Digital History
Digital History: War With Mexico [Pdf]
Read about the reasons President James Polk presented to Congress as justification for a declaration of war against Mexico. Find Polk's war message and the rebuttal by Congressman Davis.
History of American Wars
History of American Wars: Texas Independence: Mexican Texas 1821 1836
Discusses the sequence of events in Texas from 1821 to 1836 that led up to the Mexican-American War.
History of American Wars
History of American Wars: Mexican American History: Mexican American War
Discusses the events of the Mexican-American War from 1846-1848.
Other
Global Security: 54 40 or Fight
Describes the significant territorial changes that took place in the United States under the presidency of James K. Polk. These included the annexation of Texas, the settling of the dispute with Great Britain over claims to Oregon...
US Department of State
U.s. Department of State: Office of the Historian: Milestones: 1830 1860
Concisely written accounts of three important events in the history and shaping of Texas: the Annexation of Texas, the Mexican-American War, and the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo.
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Multicultural America: Mexican Americans
Provides an overview of the traditional culture and lifestyle of Mexican Americans. (Note: Content is not the most current.)
A&E Television
History.com: Mexican American War
Review the events leading up to, through, and ending the Mexican-American War of the mid-19th century.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: "American Blood on American Soil"
President James Polk's desire was for the United States to stretch from sea to shining sea. See what happened when his overatures to Mexico to buy the land north of the Rio Grande River were spurned. Take a brief vote to see if Polk was...
Curated OER
National Park Service: Californio to American: A Study in Cultural Change
This site has a lesson about the ranching industry, creation of California towns and the changes over time. Contains information, inquiry question, historical context, maps, readings, and images.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Manifest Destiny
This Khan Academy resource provides notes for American History. "Manifest Destiny" is explained on this resource, along with the implications associated with expansion of the North American continent.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Mexican American War
The Mexican-American War fulfilled James Polk's desire to acquire the territory of New Mexico and California from Mexico. See how the fight was provoked, and read about Stephen Kearny's actions in New Mexico and John Fremont's in...