Transcript Westward the Course of Manifest Destiny

Westward the Course of
Manifest Destiny
To be sure, westward expansion was a concept
that many individuals, including Thomas Jefferson,
were heartily in favor of. The term, manifest
destiny, first showed up in print in 1839, and was
used in 1845 by a New York journalist, John
O’Sullivan, to call for the annexation of Texas. The
concept of manifest destiny had a huge impact,
both good and bad, on the development of the
United States and the people who resided within
the area.
Daniel Boone Escorting Settlers through the Cumberland Gap
by George Caleb Bingham
Westward the Course of Empire
by Emanuel Leutze
Emigrants Crossing the Plains
by Albert Bierstadt
American Progress
by John Gast
Westward the Star of Empire
by Theodore Kaufmann
The country was in a growth mode
in the period after the War 0f 1812.
Would anyone be allowed to stand
in the way?
The test of Texas
--trials and
tribulations in
tough times
Why did Mexico let Americans in?
► Moses
& Stephen Austin
make an offer
► Mexico is in need of some
assistance
► There would be
conditions… Would
Americans abide with
the circumstances?
Troubles in Texas
A huge influx of Americans (25,000) to Texas
overwhelms the number of Mexican citizens
living there.
Most Americans residing there are not
“playing by the rules”.
General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
becomes the dictator of Mexico in 1835. He
is not willing to tolerate American
impertinence.
Santa Anna’s Intentions
Suppress the infusion of
more Americans
Ban slavery
Use his actions as a
means of gaining more
influence with the
citizens of the entire
country of Mexico
The War for Texas Independence
March-April 1836
►
►
►
The Battle of the
Alamo (145
Americans &
Tejanos die)
The Battle at
Goliad (350
Americans
massacred)
The Battle of San
Jacinto (630
Mexicans die; 700
captured-including
Santa Anna, 9
Americans die, 34
wounded)
Texas as an Independent Country?
1836-1845
Sam Houston serves as
President of the Republic
of Texas – the Lone Star
Republic
► Boundary along the
Nueces River???
► Most Americans leery of
Texas joining the United
States
► If Texas doesn’t join the
Union, what would be the
consequences?
► President Jackson’s
attitude? Van Buren’s?
►
James Polk Pokes the Issues of
Territorial Expansion
Polk came to office with
three things in mind:
► Annex Texas
► Claim the Oregon
Territory
► Obtain the western
areas to the Pacific
Ocean
President Polk has Issues
Why didn’t Polk annex Texas?
“Fifty-four forty or fight” – for the Oregon Territory—
negotiated and agreed to by the Senate in June 1846
Many Americans had moved out into the western regions,
why shouldn’t the United States be allowed to purchase
this area from Mexico? John Slidell sent to Mexico City and
directed to offer $30,000,000 for “New Mexico” and
California.
Mexico won’t consent to this??
…and they won’t agree to the Rio Grande
the southern boundary of Texas?
River as
This means war!!!!
…..The
Mexican-American
War!