Transcript Manifest Destiny - United States History

Manifest Destiny
America’s Movement West
Manifest Destiny
In 1845, John L. O’Sullivan
coined the term
“Manifest Destiny.”
► This is the belief that the
U.S. was destined by GOD
to stretch from the Atlantic
to the Pacific Ocean.
► It was used to justify
westward expansion for
America.
The Annexation of Texas
►Mexico
became independent of Spain in
1821 (it included land that is today Texas).
►Mexican officials began inviting Americans
to settle in the northern province of Texas.
►Stephen F. Austin brought the first group
of American settlers to Texas.
►By 1830, 20,000 Americans and 1,000
slaves live in the region (remember, it was
part of Mexico, NOT the U.S.).
Problems with Mexico
►
Problems begin between the Mexican
government and the Americans living in
Texas as Mexico attempted to (like the
end of salutary neglect during colonial times):
1. Stop further American immigration into
Texas
2. Free the black slaves living there
3. Deprive Texas of local self-government
The Lone Star Republic 1836
► Texan-Americans
declared
independence from
Mexico in 1836.
► The Mexican President
General Santa Anna
did not like the
Americans thinking
they had the control
over the land.
The Alamo
President General Santa Anna surrounded
the Alamo, an American mission in San
Antonio and kills its defenders (including famous
Mountain Men William Travis, Jim Bowie, and Davie Crocket).
The Legacy of the Alamo
► News
of the Alamo (part fiction, part truth)
enraged and energized Americans to take
action.
► Santa Anna
is then
defeated an
San Jacinto
under the
leadership
of Sam
Houston.
The West
► The
first Europeans to
explore the western
part of the United
States (before
independence) were the
French and later
American fur traders—
the Mountain Men.
► They explored the
west, trapped, and
traded peacefully with
the Native Americans.
Santa Fe Trail
► One
of the busiest and most well-known trails
of trade.
► 780 miles from Independence, Missouri to
Santa Fe, New Mexico.
More Trails West
► Later,
the Mountain Men discovered Native
American trails that led through the Rocky
Mountains to California.
► This would later become known as the
Oregon Trail.
Missionaries
As word of
westward
expansion started
to spread, churches
decided to send
missionaries to
convert Native
Americans to
Christianity.
Oregon Country
► Oregon
Country was the northwestern region
of North America that stretched from Northern
California to the southern border of Alaska
(now called the Pacific NW).
► By
the early 1800’s 4 different European
nations had occupied this region.
 United States, Great Britain, Russia, & Spain
► In 1818, the U.S. and Great Britain signed a
treaty agreeing to joint occupation.
The Oregon Trail
► Starting
in 1843, men
began meeting in
Independence, Missouri
to begin the journey
west—to Oregon or
California.
► A 2,000 mile trek
across the Great Plains
and Rocky Mountains.
The Journey
► Usually
took 121 days to
reach CA and 139 to
reach OR
► Cost a typical family
$500 to $1000.
► Caravans traveled
along the Platte River
(in today’s Nebraska),
through the South Pass
(today’s Wyoming).
The Settlers
►At
the South Pass people would split up—
to Oregon or to California/Nevada.
►Most people making
the journey were white
settlers from the Midwest,
but some were free
African Americans.
 All were looking
for a better life.
Dangers on the Road
► It
was a very strenuous, exhausting, and
dangerous journey.
► Pioneers spent more time trading with the
Native Americans than fighting with them—
travelers received food in return for clothing,
tools, etc.
 It wasn’t until the 1850’s that serious conflict
arose.
► The
true deadly threat to the pioneers was
the treat of disease (disease killed as many as
10,000 people between 1840-1860 on this
journey).
The Mormon Migration
► One
group that migrated westward along the
Oregon Trail were the Mormons.
 A religious community that would play a major role
in America’s settlement of the west.
► Mormon
history begins in New York with their
leader Joseph Smith.
► Smith and his followers decide to move west.
 First to Illinois, but persecution for their beliefs
continued.
► Later,
Smith’s successor, Brigham Young, would
move the Mormon people to the edge of a
lonely western desert near the Great Salt Lake.
Reasons Americans were
headed West….
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Escape religious persecution & racial
discrimination
Find new markets for commerce
Claim land for farming, ranching, and
mining
Locate harbors on the Pacific for trade
Seek employment and avoid creditors
Spread the virtues of democracy &
Christianity