Transcript manifest destiny

Expansion of the United States
• Louisiana
Purchase:
Jefferson and many
others wanted to
control the Miss.
River. They asked
Napolean (France’s
leader) if he would
sell New Orleans.
He said yes and
how about a little
more?
Who explored this vast wilderness and
who was their Indian guide?
The Cotton Gin!
The cotton gin was a machine
invented by Eli Whitney in 1793 to
modernize the process of cleaning
the seeds from cotton.
• Slavery was on the
way decline. The new
cash crop of the South
was cotton, but it was
to expensive b/c so
many slaves were
needed to remove
seeds from the cotton.
The cotton gin made
cleaning cotton
(removing the seeds)
easier and therefore
much more profitable
(King Cotton).
Cotton farming
exploded and so too
did slavery!
War of 1812
The War was between the U. S. and England. Basically England was
ruining our economy by negatively affecting our nation’s ability to
trade. England was also boarding American ships and impressing
American citizens forcing them to fight for the British Navy (Over
3000 Americans were impressed).
The War of 1812 is
famous for the fact that:
•Washington DC was
burned down
•The Star Spangled Banner
(Our National Anthem)
was written when the
British failed to defeat
American troops at Ft.
McHenry in Baltimore,
MD.
•Andrew Jackson became
famous for defeating the
British at the Battle of New
Orleans.
War of 1812
• In terms of expansion, this war allowed the
US to lay claim to the Oregon Territory and
allowed more people to migrate to Florida
(Adams – Onis Treaty 1819). This is also the
war where the British burned Washington
DC to the ground.
The Monroe Doctrine, 1823
Fearing that the European
nations might try once
again to create colonies in
the Caribbean and South
America, President James
Monroe issues his famous
doctrine:
– The American continents should not be
considered for future colonization by any
European powers.
– Nations in the Western Hemisphere were
inherently different from those of Europe,
republics by nature rather than monarchies.
– The United States would regard as a threat to
its own peace and safety any attempt by
European powers to impose their system on
any independent state in the Western
Hemisphere.
– The United States would not interfere in
European affairs.
The Doctrine had little impact at first, but
became a basic principle during America’s Age
of Imperialism, when we tried to control much
of Central and South America.
Transportation:
allowed people
and goods to
move faster and
further than
ever before
Transcontinental Railroad (1869)!
Erie Canal (1825)
Manifest Destiny
The idea that the
United States was
destined to expand its
territory from the
Atlantic Ocean to the
Pacific Ocean. The
concept justified
rapidly expanding
white settlement
throughout the midand late 19th century.
Trail of Tears
• To obtain more
land for
southern
farmers, the
federal
government
relocates
thousands of
Indians from
GA, AL, FL and
SC to present
day Oklahoma.
What was the Texas revolution?
• Mexico (a new country) invites American
Southerners into Texas. They must obey Mexican
Law. They don’t.
• Soon, Texans (as they called themselves) had had
enough of Mexican laws. They rebelled, hoping
to create their own nation.
• The leader of Mexico (Santa Anna) was ruthless at
Goliad and the Alamo.
• Sam Houston literally caught Santa Anna and his
men sleeping (during a siesta) and defeated the
Mexican Army at San Jacinto. Texas was now a
republic in April 1836!
Texas Revolution
The Texans (numbering approximately 189 men)
fought off the Mexicans (numbering between 3,0004,000 troops) for 13 days until the army finally overran
the Alamo on March 6, 1836.
The Alamo – outside the
main entrance in San
Antonio TX and a
recreation of how it
looked in 1835.
Texas joins the Union
(1845). But Mexico rejects
Texas’ border at the Rio
Grande. The US is itching
for a fight (leaders know
the US needs to territory).
On February 2, 1848,
representatives from both
countries signed the Treaty
of Guadalupe Hidalgo. In
return for $15 million,
Mexico surrendered New
Mexico and California—
more than half its
territory—to the United
States.
Mexican American War
California Goldrush
• After gold was
discovered in
California on
January 24, 1848,
a stampede of
settlers from the
eastern U.S. and
all over the world
poured into the
state in search of
their fortunes.