Transcript Manifest Destiny

Western
Expansion
1783-1850
Chapter 7
“American Progress” by John Gast, 1872
Manifest Destiny
 Some Americans believed that it was their nation’s
manifest destiny, or obvious or undeniable fate, to
extend its reach from the Atlantic to the Pacific
“Manifest Destiny”
 First coined by newspaper editor, John O’Sullivan in 1845.
 ".... the right of our manifest destiny to over spread and
to possess the whole of the continent which Providence
has given us for the development of the great experiment of
liberty and federaltive development of self-government
entrusted to us. It is right such as that of the tree to the
space of air and the earth suitable for the full expansion of
its principle and destiny of growth."
 A myth of the West as a land of romance and adventure
emerged.
Origins of Westward Expansion:
the Northwest Ordinance (1787)
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After the French and Indian War, Britain took possession of the
Northwest Territory (area north of Ohio and east of the Mississippi
River- Great Lakes region). But Proclamation of 1763 forbade
American colonists from settling there.
After the American Revolution, Congress passed the Northwest
Ordinance of 1787. The law divided the area into smaller territories
and provided guidelines for statehood.
It resulted in the formation of 5 states: Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, and
Wisconsin.
The NW Ordinance made slavery illegal in the new territory. The
issue of slavery would continue to arise as America expanded west.
Northwest Ordinance
Louisiana Purchase & Oregon Trail
(1803)
 The Louisiana Purchase nearly doubled the size
of the United States.
 Under the Land Act of 1800, Americans were
able to buy land in the western territories in
small parcels and on credit.
 This led to rapid migration on the Oregon Trail.
Louisiana Purchase
Expansion Continues:
The Missouri Compromise
Chapter 6, Section 5
In 1819, Congress began debating the admission of the state of Missouri to
the United States. The basic issue at stake was slavery.
 Several members of Congress from the North objected to Missouri’s
admission as a slave state, fearing that this would upset the balance of free
and slave states in the South’s favor.
 A compromise known as the Missouri Compromise, engineered by Henry
Clay, resolved the issue. Under the Missouri Compromise, Missouri would
enter the United States as a slave state, Maine would enter as a free state,
and all new states created above 360 30' N latitude (the southern border of
Missouri) would have to be free states.
 The economy soon improved, and politicians agreed to avoid the difficult
issue of slavery. However, the questions raised by these issues would soon
be impossible to ignore.
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Overland Immigration to the West
 Between 1840 and
1860, more than
250,000 people
made the trek
westward.
Texas: independence & Annexation
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In 1821, Mexico gained independence from Spain. They also gained control of Texas, a
region in which many US settlers lived.
In 1834, General Santa Anna assumed power over the Mexican govt and tightened his
control over Texas.
In response, Texans under the leadership of Sam Houston launched a rebellion.
On March 2, 1836, a convention of TX delegates declared the territory an independent
republic.
Santa Anna retaliated and the Texans took their stand against him at The Alamo.
Every Texan was killed in the Battle of the Alamo (incl Davey Crockett).
Eventually Santa Anna was defeated and taken hostage. In exchange for his freedom,
Santa Anna promised to recognize the Republic of TX as independent an withdrew his
forces.
Texas then asked to be annexed (made part of the US) and became a state in 1845.
There's No Basement in the Alamo!
Remember the Alamo!!1
Polk…Oregon
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The annexation of Texas was a critical issue in the election of 1844.
James K. Polk took a strong stand as the Democratic candidate, calling for the annexation of
both Texas and Oregon.
Texas was admitted to the Union (as a slave state) in 1845, thanks to Polk.
With the annexation of TX complete, Polk turned his attention to Oregon.
After the Louisiana Purchase, US settlers began moving to Oregon, which was a territory
divided by Britain and the US.
Polk argued that US had rightful claim to the territory.
Britain agreed to give Oregon to the US so they could remain on friendly terms.
In 1846, Oregon became part of the US.
Thus, Polk had achieved Manifest Destiny. America now stretched from sea to shining sea!
The Oregon Trail – Albert Bierstadt, 1869
The Mexican War
Mexico was angry with the US for
annexing TX, but this did not deter
Pres Polk from achieving Manifest
Destiny!
Because Mexico refused to negotiate
for the purchase of California and New
Mexico, Polk declared war on Mexico
in 1846.
By 1847, Mexico surrendered.
The Mexican War provided an
opportunity to extend America’s
borders across the continent.
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Results of the Mexican War
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
ended the Mexican War with
substantial gains for the United States.
 In the treaty, Mexico gave up its claims
to Texas, California, and New Mexico
in return for $15 million.
 Five years later, Mexico sold more land
to Pres Pierce for $10 mil. This
Gadsden Purchase included land that
became southern New Mexico and
Arizona.
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The Mexican War, together with the
Gadsden Purchase and the 1846
division of Oregon, established the
borders of the continental United
States as they are today.
New American territory in the West
opened the door to an even larger
wave of western migration.
California Gold Rush
Trails Westward
Gold Rush
 After the Mexican War, settlers discovered gold just
north of Sacramento, Cali.
 This sparked the California Gold Rush of 1849.
 Settlers called 49ers began flocking to Cali to get
rich.
 California became a state in the Compromise of
1850.
Expanding Into Florida
Chapter 7, Section 2
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In 1795, the United States had signed the Pinckney Treaty with
Spain. According to this treaty, Florida would be controlled by Spain,
and the United States would be allowed free use of the Mississippi
River through Spanish lands. In addition, both the United States and
Spain agreed to control the Native Americans within their borders.
The United States began acquiring parts of Florida in 1810,
beginning with West Florida and parts of East Florida.
While Spain was preoccupied with uprisings in its other colonies, the
Seminoles, a Native American group living in Florida, increased their
raids on settlements in northern Georgia.
General Andrew Jackson, assigned to protect the settlers, thought
that the United States should possess Florida. Jackson chose to
invade Spanish Florida.
The Seminole Wars
Chapter 7, Section 2
Response to Jackson’s Invasion
 Jackson’s forces quickly swept
through Florida. Although Congress
threatened to condemn him, most
Americans applauded his actions.
 President Monroe and his Secretary
of State, John Quincy Adams,
decided to make the best of
Jackson’s actions.
 Monroe and Adams accused Spain of
breaking the Pinckney Treaty by
failing to control the Seminoles.
The Adams-Onís Treaty
 Spain was in a poor position to argue
with the United States. Spanish
representative Luiz de Onís and
Adams developed the Adams-Onís
Treaty.
 According to this treaty, Spain agreed
to cede, or give up, Florida to the
United States. The United States
agreed to cede its claims to a huge
territory in the present-day
southwestern United States. The
treaty also fixed the boundary
between the Louisiana Purchase and
Spanish territory in the West.
Forcing Native Americans West
Chapter 7, Section 2
The Government’s Removal Plan
 Settlers seeking land west of
the Appalachians did not want
to compete with Native
Americans.
 The government created a plan
to pressure Native American
groups to move further west to
the Louisiana Territory, an area
which lay well beyond current
settlements and was seen as
unfit for farming.
Native American Response
 While most Native American
groups peacefully cooperated
with federal agents, some
fought bitterly against removal.
 Diseases brought by white
settlers caused epidemics
which reduced the Native
American population.
Trails to the West—Assessment
Chapter 7, Section 2
Which of these was a result of the California Gold Rush?
(A) Interest in land in trans-Appalachia soared.
(B) The Oregon and Santa Fe trails were created.
(C) Thousands of settlers poured into California.
(D) Ghost towns were revived.
Which of these was a direct result of the Adams-Onís Treaty?
(A) The United States was granted free use of the Mississippi River in Spanish
lands.
(B) The United States created a plan to remove Native Americans.
(C) Spain agreed to cede Florida to the United States.
(D) The United States and Great Britain agreed to share the Oregon Country.
Trails to the West—Assessment
Chapter 7, Section 2
Which of these was a result of the California Gold Rush?
(A) Interest in land in trans-Appalachia soared.
(B) The Oregon and Santa Fe trails were created.
(C) Thousands of settlers poured into California.
(D) Ghost towns were revived.
Which of these was a direct result of the Adams-Onís Treaty?
(A) The United States was granted free use of the Mississippi River in Spanish
lands.
(B) The United States created a plan to remove Native Americans.
(C) Spain agreed to cede Florida to the United States.
(D) The United States and Great Britain agreed to share the Oregon Country.
Assessment
 Define “Manifest Destiny”
 What effect did the US war with Mexico have?
The US invaded and annexed Texas
The US marched into Sacramento and forced Mexico to
surrender California.
The US agreed to give back Texas in exchange for
California.
The US acquired territory that eventually became
Arizona and New Mexico.
The Doomed Donner Party
April, 1846 – April, 1847
The Doomed Donner Party
CANNIBALISM ! !
Margaret
Breen
James Reed & Wife
Patrick
Breen
John
Breen
 Of the 83 members of the
Donner Party, only 45 survived
to get to California!
 Modified from powerpoint by Susan M. Pojer
Horace Greeley H. S. Chappaqua, NY
 Copyright © 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc.,
publishing as Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River,
New Jersey.