Houghton Mifflin Social Studies
Chapter 8, Lesson 2, Achieving Manifest Destiny (pp. 230-235)
I. Development of Texas
B. Soon, however, settlers from the United States challenged Mexican authority and
refused to obey Mexican laws.
C. As more newcomers came to Texas from the United States, settlers began to
demand independence from Mexico.
II. Texas Gains Independence
B. The United States refused to annex Texas because it was a slave state and would
upset the balance of slave and free states.
C. During the 10 years that Texas was an independent republic, clashes with Mexico and
calls for annexation to the United States continued.
III. War with Mexico
B. In 1845, President Polk moved troops to the Rio Grande and sparked a clash that led to war.
C. After two years of war, Mexico gave up most the land north of the Rio Grande in
exchange for money and the United States agreement to pay some Mexican debts.
D. By winning the Mexican War, the United States achieved its goal of Manifest Destiny,
and stretched from coast to coast.
Lesson at a Glance Outline
A. Around 1820, the Spanish government allowed U.S. settlers to move to the Mexican
state of Texas, requiring them to promise loyalty to the Spanish government, and later,
to the Mexican government.
A. After some struggle, Texan troops defeated Mexican troops and forced Mexico to
recognize its independence.
A. The United States annexed Texas in 1845, and tried to buy additional land from Mexico.
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