Manifest DestinyManifest Destiny

Elbow RoomElbow Room

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Early Exploration: The Early Exploration: The Lewis and Clark Expedition, Lewis and Clark Expedition,

1804-18061804-1806 In 1803, President Jefferson In 1803, President Jefferson

secretly asked Congress to secretly asked Congress to commission an exploratory commission an exploratory expedition across the western expedition across the western United States. United States.

The Corps of Discovery, led by The Corps of Discovery, led by Meriwether Lewis and William Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, was the first overland Clark, was the first overland expedition to the Pacific coast expedition to the Pacific coast and back. and back.

Jefferson's vision was of Jefferson's vision was of expanding the "empire of expanding the "empire of liberty" and populating it with liberty" and populating it with self-sufficient families and self-sufficient families and farmers. farmers.

After Lewis and Clark, a After Lewis and Clark, a number of other government-number of other government-sponsored expeditions were sponsored expeditions were initiated to ascertain the wild initiated to ascertain the wild territories of the West.territories of the West.

Lewis and Clark’s RouteLewis and Clark’s Route

Manifest Destiny: The Manifest Destiny: The Ideology of ExpansionismIdeology of Expansionism

Americans grappled with the Americans grappled with the question of what to do with question of what to do with the Mexican and Native the Mexican and Native American people to be American people to be displaced by migration. displaced by migration.

The US risked conflict with The US risked conflict with nations that had claim to land nations that had claim to land in North America. in North America.

Some desired the capacity for Some desired the capacity for expanded trade with Asia, expanded trade with Asia, others were compelled to others were compelled to spread "civilization" and spread "civilization" and Christianity.Christianity.

Southern Democrats Southern Democrats supported the addition of supported the addition of agrarian territories, while agrarian territories, while Northern Whigs feared the Northern Whigs feared the expansion of slavery.expansion of slavery.

The belief that it was the The belief that it was the nation’s God-given right to nation’s God-given right to expand according to its needs expand according to its needs was encompassed in the was encompassed in the slogan, "Manifest Destiny.” slogan, "Manifest Destiny.”

Manifest DestinyManifest Destiny

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President Polk and President Polk and Westward ExpansionWestward Expansion

During the presidential During the presidential campaign of 1844, Democratic campaign of 1844, Democratic nominee James K. Polk called nominee James K. Polk called for American expansion for American expansion westward. westward.

He interpreted his election, He interpreted his election, though he only won by a though he only won by a narrow margin, as an narrow margin, as an endorsement of his endorsement of his expansionist position. expansionist position.

In his inaugural address In his inaugural address (1845), he spent considerable (1845), he spent considerable time defending U.S. expansion time defending U.S. expansion as a means of creating and as a means of creating and preserving a more powerful preserving a more powerful Union. Union.

The Overland TrailsThe Overland Trails The seven month, 2,000 mile The seven month, 2,000 mile

journey from Missouri to the journey from Missouri to the coast was expensive and coast was expensive and hazardous. hazardous.

Though many travelers were Though many travelers were anxious about the possibility anxious about the possibility of conflict with Native of conflict with Native Americans, the most deadly Americans, the most deadly hazards to travelers were hazards to travelers were accidents and disease. accidents and disease.

Life on the trail was tedious, Life on the trail was tedious, with each wagon moving at a with each wagon moving at a pace of about 15 miles per pace of about 15 miles per day. day.

Oregon was the major Oregon was the major destination of migrants until destination of migrants until 1848, when the discovery of 1848, when the discovery of gold in California diverted the gold in California diverted the stream of settlers southward.stream of settlers southward.

Wagon ruts from the Oregon Trail, visible today in Idaho

The Overland TrailsThe Overland Trails

The U.S. expanded rapidly in the nineteenth century

A Stop Along the TrailA Stop Along the Trail

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Oregon CountryOregon Country

Beginning in 1818, Britain and the United States jointly occupied Oregon Beginning in 1818, Britain and the United States jointly occupied Oregon Country.Country.

Oregon's population of British, French, Native American, and Hawaiian trappers Oregon's population of British, French, Native American, and Hawaiian trappers and entrepreneurs frequently formed mixed-race families until the 1840's.and entrepreneurs frequently formed mixed-race families until the 1840's.

When "Oregon fever" swept thousand of white Americans into the Willamette When "Oregon fever" swept thousand of white Americans into the Willamette Valley, the new settlers adopted polices that excluded non-white emigrants.Valley, the new settlers adopted polices that excluded non-white emigrants.

The Oregon Treaty of 1846 established the border between Canada and the U.S. The Oregon Treaty of 1846 established the border between Canada and the U.S. at the forty-ninth parallel, despite President Polk's 1844 campaign slogan, at the forty-ninth parallel, despite President Polk's 1844 campaign slogan, "Fifty-four Forty, or Fight!" "Fifty-four Forty, or Fight!"

Oregon became a state in 1859.Oregon became a state in 1859.

California: The Golden California: The Golden StateState

The U.S. acquired California The U.S. acquired California from Mexico in 1848 with the from Mexico in 1848 with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

California attracted people California attracted people from all over the U.S. and the from all over the U.S. and the world with the discovery of world with the discovery of gold later that year. gold later that year.

Merchants who came to Merchants who came to outfit, house, feed and outfit, house, feed and entertain the exploding entertain the exploding population had a better population had a better chance of profiting than those chance of profiting than those who came to pan the streams who came to pan the streams and rivers. and rivers.

Most miners were young Most miners were young men. The transitory mining men. The transitory mining camps were often rife with camps were often rife with crime.crime.

California became a state in California became a state in 1850.1850.

Chinese Immigration Chinese Immigration During the Gold RushDuring the Gold Rush

Thousands of Chinese workers immigrated to California during the gold rush. Thousands of Chinese workers immigrated to California during the gold rush. Though it was one of the most ethnically diverse regions of the country, the Though it was one of the most ethnically diverse regions of the country, the

Chinese were subject to discrimination.Chinese were subject to discrimination. They were relegated to doing the most menial labor.They were relegated to doing the most menial labor. In 1852, they became subject to a tax on foreign miners. In 1852, they became subject to a tax on foreign miners. In 1882, Chinese immigration was outlawed with the Chinese Exclusion Act.In 1882, Chinese immigration was outlawed with the Chinese Exclusion Act.

The California Gold RushThe California Gold Rush

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Territorial Expansion, Territorial Expansion, 1830-18601830-1860

1830

Territorial Expansion, Territorial Expansion, 1830-18601830-1860

1850

Territorial Expansion, Territorial Expansion, 1830-18601830-1860

1860

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