The first organized migration to California originated in Platte County, on the far western frontier of Missouri. Reports described California as "a perfect paradise, a perpetual spring." The people of Platte County formed the Western Emigration Society, which sent out information about California throughout the Mississippi Valley (Wexler,139). Several merchant and landowners were concerned about the number of prospective emigrants that they launched a campaign disparaging California. This act proved to be effective, in 1842 and 1843 relatively few emigrants followed the first migration to California. The first wagon train was led by John Bidwell, the organizer of the Western Emigration Society. Bidwell let the pioneers across the Rockies, a party of 69 adults and children who divided into two groups after crossin

As early as 1844, there was a call to build a transcontinental railroad that would transport goods from eastern factories and farms to western ports and to the Orient. Senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois advocated that the Indians be removed from the Platte Valley and territorial governments be established in Nebraska and Oregon, and a transcontinental railroad be surveyed, so that the United States could "drive Great Britain and her ships and commerce from China"(3). As emigrants crossed the continent in search of new homes in California, relations between Mexico and the United States were steadily deteriorating. The breaking point was when Texas became the 28th state of the union on December 29, 1845. Texas became part of the Union with border disputes existing with Mexico.

A resolution admitting California as a free state and allowing territorial governments for New Mexico and Utah without reference to slavery. By the Compromise's terms, the boundaries of Texas would be adjusted and the United States would assume Texas' public debt. The last resolution involved slavery: That the fugitive slave law would be strengthened, but no slavery would be allowed in Washington D.C.

As the expansionist eleventh President of the United States, James K. Polk was perhaps more responsible than any other single person for setting boundaries of what came the American West. Polk's ardent enthusiasm for westward expansion saved his career, gaining him the Democratic Presidential nomination in 1844. In his campaign the annexation of Oregon and Texas, although either measure might well mean a war, and once elected, he went on to implement his plan for expansion.

Through a combination of military threats and diplomacy, Polk managed to arrive at a compromise with Great Britain in resolving joint ownership claims of Oregon set at the 49th parallel as the Oregon Territory's northern boundary. Acquiring the rest of the West was a bloody affair, and the newly admitted state of Texas was at the heart of the matter (thewest@pbs.org).

By signing the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, on February 2, 1848, ending the Mexican- American War. The United States acquired an immense western territory stretching from Texas to the Pacific and north to Oregon, which included Upper California, Utah. The United States gained 1.2 million sq

Some common words found in the essay are:
John Tyler, Republic Texas, Congress United, DC Southerners, WESTWARD EXPANSION, Utah United, Rio Grande, Oregon Territory's, Oregon Texas, West Southern, texas annexation, westward expansion, manifest destiny, western emigration society, james polk, platte county, texas union, slavery question, southerners argued, migration california, political control region, emigration society,
Approximate Word count = 1578
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)