Manifest DestinyManifest Destiny

1800-18501800-1850

Manifest DestinyManifest Destiny

Manifest DestinyManifest Destiny – the belief that – the belief that America was destined to stretch across America was destined to stretch across continent. continent. Southern expansionists & Northern Southern expansionists & Northern

abolitionists saw opportunities to expand abolitionists saw opportunities to expand their power in Congresstheir power in Congress

Manifest Destiny became gov’t policy Manifest Destiny became gov’t policy under James K. Polk (11th president) under James K. Polk (11th president)

Expansion came at the expense of Expansion came at the expense of Indians and MexicansIndians and Mexicans

Buffalo & Indians are driven into obscurity…

“American Progress” by John Gast, 1872

Lady Liberty“Star of Empire”

Carries a schoolbook… …and

telegraph wire

…as settlers move westward

“The tools of progress”

Americans Look WestwardAmericans Look Westward

1821 – Revolution overturned Spanish rule in 1821 – Revolution overturned Spanish rule in Mexico, U.S. recognized Mexico as a republicMexico, U.S. recognized Mexico as a republic

American American expansionistsexpansionists – those who favored – those who favored U.S. territorial growth – looked at Texas, New U.S. territorial growth – looked at Texas, New Mexico, California as targets for American Mexico, California as targets for American expansionexpansion Few people living thereFew people living there Rich in resourcesRich in resources Mexican government and economy weak Mexican government and economy weak

after revolutionafter revolution

US Territorial Expansion

A

When?

From Where?

Why?

•1776

•Great Britain

•US declared independence from Great Britain

A - 13 Original Colonies

US Territorial Expansion

A

When?

From Where?

Why?

•1783

•Great Britain

•Part of results of Treaty of Paris (ended Revolutionary War)

B

B - Western Lands

US Territorial Expansion

A

When?

From Where?

Why?

•1803

•France

•Napoleon needed $

•Jefferson wanted to buy New Orleans

•He got all of this instead!

B

C - Louisiana Purchase

C

US Territorial Expansion

A

When?

From Where?

Why?

•1819

•Spain

•Andrew Jackson invaded

•Spain then sold it to us for $5 million

B

D - Florida

D

C

US Territorial Expansion

A

When?

From Where?

Why?

•1845

•Republic of Texas (Independent Country)

•Texas independent from Mexico in 1836

•Northerners feared it would become a slave state •Fears finally overcome in 1844 Presidential election

B

E - Texas

D

C

E

US Territorial Expansion

A

When?

From Where?

Why?

•1846

•Great Britain

•Claimed by four countries (G. Britain, Russia, Spain, & US)

•Americans demanded “54° 40’ or fight!”

•Britain compromised 49° & US accepted

B

F - Oregon Territory

D

C

E

F

US Territorial Expansion

A

When?

From Where?

Why?

•1848

•Mexico

•Polk offers to buy G from Mexico & they refuse

•War!

•US wins

•In Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, US offers $15 million for G

B

G - Mexican Cession

D

C

E

F

G

Obstacles Technology Indian Tribes Law and Order Forests had to be cleared to make

way for new cities- ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT?

Technology Interchangeable Parts (1801) Cotton Gin (1793) & McCormick

Reaper (1831) – accelerated farming Steamboats (1807) & railroads

(1850’s) – provide faster movement of goods & services

Telegraph (1837) – speeds up the pace of business

Different kinds of people move westward than had done during the 1600’s/1700’s

Land Speculators overran the tribes looking for quick profits & ignoring treaties (which the gov’t also ignored)• “The Law” (Gov’t, Police) follow the

criminals • Religious Zealots - People who are

extremely religious

Migration!

1. Sharing of Knowledge1. Sharing of Knowledge

Trappers like Trappers like Jedediah SmithJedediah Smith and and Jim Jim BridgerBridger explored the west taking beaver explored the west taking beaver peltspelts Explored the RockiesExplored the Rockies

finding routes throughfinding routes through

the mountains to the the mountains to the

west coastwest coast Shared knowledge of Shared knowledge of

routes with pioneersroutes with pioneers

Explorations of Jedediah SmithExplorations of Jedediah Smith

Southern Route Protected Southern Route Protected Pioneers!Pioneers!

2. Trade with Other Countries2. Trade with Other Countries Mexican independence (1821) encouraged Mexican independence (1821) encouraged

tradetrade Merchants from Missouri opened trade across Merchants from Missouri opened trade across

Great Plains with Santa Fe, capital of New Great Plains with Santa Fe, capital of New MexicoMexico Welcomed by Welcomed by

MexicoMexico Trade moved alongTrade moved along

what become known what become known

as the as the Santa Fe TrailSanta Fe Trail

3. Opportunities to Own Land3. Opportunities to Own Land In 1836 missionaries In 1836 missionaries Marcus and Narcissa Marcus and Narcissa

WhitmanWhitman followed what would be the Oregon followed what would be the Oregon Trail to the Willamette Valley in Oregon Trail to the Willamette Valley in Oregon territoryterritory Founded Indian missionFounded Indian mission

at Walla Walla at Walla Walla Later led wagon trains Later led wagon trains

to Oregon establishingto Oregon establishing

the trail as the way tothe trail as the way to

get to Oregonget to Oregon Killed by Cayuse IndiansKilled by Cayuse Indians

in 1847in 1847

Oregon TrailOregon Trail

4. Religious Reasons4. Religious Reasons Mormons move west with the help of Mormons move west with the help of

Brigham YoungBrigham Young 1847 Young led Mormon Exodus 1847 Young led Mormon Exodus

to east shore of Great Salt Laketo east shore of Great Salt Lake Successful settlement Successful settlement

in desertin desert By 1860 over 40,000By 1860 over 40,000

Mormons in the WestMormons in the West

5. Land Speculation Some Americans wanted to take

away rich lands from Natives Louisiana Purchase (1803) legitimized

expansion Speculators saw Natives as savages and

not worthy of the land

The Results??The Results?? Wagons West – trains of 10 to 100 wagons Wagons West – trains of 10 to 100 wagons

moved settlers the 2000 miles from moved settlers the 2000 miles from Missouri to Oregon or CaliforniaMissouri to Oregon or California 260,000 Americans260,000 Americans

made the tripmade the trip Trip took 5 monthsTrip took 5 months Donner Party (cannibalism)Donner Party (cannibalism)

showed the danger showed the danger Those that made itThose that made it

got better farms got better farms

A Massive Migration Census reports record the new movement

westward (1800-1840) Ohio: 50,000-1.5 million Illinois: 12,000-500,000 Alabama: 22,000-127,000

By 1837, the number of states doubled to 26 Michigan, Ohio, Illinois,

Kentucky, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Indiana

Effects on Nation

Events directly affected by “Manifest Destiny” 1. Indian Wars and Removal (1830’s)2. The Alamo (1835) 3. Mexican War (1846)4. Gold Rush (1849)5. Reliance on slavery spins nation into Civil War (1861)