Transcript Manifest Destiny

Manifest Destiny
America was destined to stretch from sea to sea, and nothing could
stop them. As the Eastern portion of the country became more
populated, their attention turned westward. Promises of riches, a new
start, free land, and adventure attracted people to lands once only
inhabited by Natives.
Lewis & Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806) was the first overland
expedition undertaken by the United States to the Pacific coast and back.
The expedition team was headed by the United States Army soldiers
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and assisted by Sacajawea and
Toussaint Charbonneau. The expedition's goal was to gain an accurate
sense of the resources being exchanged in the Louisiana Purchase. The
expedition laid much of the groundwork for the westward expansion of the
United States.
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Territory, purchased for less than 5 cents an acre,
was one of Thomas Jefferson's greatest contributions to his
country. Louisiana doubled the size of the United States literally
overnight, without a war or the loss of a single American life, and
set a model for the purchase of territory. It opened the way for
the eventual expansion of the United States across the continent
to the Pacific, and its resultant rise to the status of world power.
Dangers on the Trail
There were many dangers on the trail like fierce animals, Indians,
storms, rivers, diseases, and robbers. Many of the Indians were
not friendly. They would try to steal cattle and horses. The
pioneers also lost livestock to coyotes and other predators. That's
why the pioneers had guards who stayed up all night to watch the
livestock. Many rivers were difficult to cross. Some of the rivers
were fast, deep, and muddy.
Chores Children Did on the Trail
Children had lots of chores that included milking their cows, fetching
water from a stream or a river that was nearby, helping their parents
cook food, washing dishes, collecting buffalo chips or wood for the fire,
shaking out dusty blankets and quilts, and hanging beef jerky to dry in
the sun.