Transcript UNIT 5: MANIFEST DESTINY

How did the U.S. gain land West of the Mississippi and why
did people move West?
 In this unit, you learned about the growth of the
United States from about 1800 to the early 1850s. In
1800, the United States was bordered by the Atlantic
Ocean to the east and the Mississippi River to the west.
Farther west lay regions claimed by Great Britain,
Russia, France, and Spain. By the 1850s, the United
States had acquired these lands, more than doubling
its size, and extended its western border to the Pacific
Ocean. You also learned about several groups of
people who decided to head West in search of a better
life.
 Manifest Destiny means
“obvious fate”.
 Our “obvious fate”,
according to some, as a
country was to control the
land from the Atlantic
Ocean to the Pacific
Ocean.
 As you look at each story of
our land acquisitions, the
question to ask yourself is,
“How justifiable was the
U.S. expansion in the
1800s?”
 The first territory the U.S.
was able to obtain was the
Louisiana Territory in 1803.
 Thomas Jefferson was able
to make the purchase for
$15 million dollars from
France.
 The Purchase allowed the
U.S. to control the
Mississippi River and lands
west of the Mississippi
River
What city did Jefferson send James Monroe to buy,
but instead got all of the Louisiana Territory?
2. Why did the French decide to sell all the land?
3. Was it constitutional for Jefferson to make a land
purchase?
1.
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2.
3.
Jefferson sent Monroe to purchase the city of New Orleans for
$7.5 million. If you can control the mouth of the Mississippi
River, then you can control the trade going in and out of the
Gulf of Mexico.
Napoleon had hoped to use the Louisiana Territory to raise
food for his slaves on the sugar plantations in present day
Haiti. Through a slave revolt, Napoleon had lost the sugar
plantations and no longer needed the Louisiana Territory.
Also, he was close to going to war with Great Britain and
thought he might lose the land anyway. So why not sell it to
the U.S.
Jefferson had always been a strict constitutionalist, but he felt
that this was a historic opportunity for the U.S. The Senate
approved the purchase of the land as a treaty between the U.S.
and France. Treaties are constitutional.
 In 1819, the U.S. obtained
Florida from Spain in
exchange for paying $5
million in settlers claims
and promising to leave
Texas alone.
 President Monroe was
told Spain to “govern or
get out” after a dispute
between the U.S. and
Spain over the borders.
 Spain got out.
1. Why were the people in Georgia so upset at Spanish
Florida?
2. What future president almost caused a war between
the U.S. and Spain?
1.
2.
The border was very insecure between Georgia and Spain.
Seminole Indians had been crossing the border and
invading the lands in Georgia. Also, slaves found a quick
way to freedom by escaping to Florida.
General Andrew Jackson (our nations 9th president)
disobeyed orders and chased Seminole Indians into
Spanish Florida. He sent in 1700 troops, captured a
military fort, executed two British officials, and replaced
the governor of Florida. Spain wanted Jackson punished
for his actions; instead, Monroe told Spain to “govern or
get out”. Ironically one of the men that saved Jackson’s
job was John Quincy Adams who Jackson would run
against in the 1828 presidential election (one of the
dirtiest campaigns in history).
 American settlers started to
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inhabit Texas in 1827. The
Mexican government wanted
the settlers to come in and
help develop the land.
By 1835, the settlers started to
revolt against the Mexican
government.
In 1836, Sam Houston had
helped lead the Texans to
their independence.
In 1845, the U.S. annexed the
Republic of Texas.
Texas became the 28th state
admitted to the Union.
What requirements did the Mexican government
have for the American settlers coming into Texas?
2. What happened at the Battle of the Alamo?
3. What event will the annexing of Texas lead to?
1.
1.
2.
3.
American that came to Texas agreed to certain
stipulations from the Mexican government. The founder,
Stephen F. Austin , agreed to choose only moral and
hardworking settlers. The settlers agreed to become
Mexican citizens and join the Catholic church. Settlers
became dissatisfied when they were required to learn
Spanish.
At the Battle of the Alamo, General Santa Anna defeated
the Texans and had the defenders of the fort ordered to
be executed. Texans were upset by Santa Anna’s actions.
Soon the rally cry for the Texans was “Remember the
Alamo”.
The Mexican American War.
 In 1819, four countries
claimed Oregon: Russia,
Spain, Great Britain, and the
U.S.
 By 1825, only the Great Britain
and the U.S. claimed the land.
 By 1844, Oregon fever had hit
the U.S. and several settlers
moved out West along the
Oregon Trail.
 President James K. Polk
agreed to split the land with
Great Britain at the 49th
parallel.
Why did people want to move to Oregon?
2. What was James K. Polk’s campaign slogan in the
1844 election about Oregon?
1.
At first missionaries headed out west to convert the
Indians to Christianity. The missionaries sent home
letters telling their family and friends about the
“pioneers paradise” in Oregon. The letters claimed
the weather was always sunny, no disease, trees
everywhere, and great farms ready for the taking.
2. Polk’s campaign promise was “Fifty-four forty or
fight” and “All of Oregon or none”. After being
elected, Polk decided to use diplomacy with Great
Britain and split the land. One of the reasons for
doing this was because a war was getting ready to
start in the Mexico.
1.
 After the U.S. annexed Texas,
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the relationship between the
U.S. and Mexico became
strained.
Each side claimed a different
border along Texas and
Mexico.
War began in 1846.
In September 1847, General
Winfield Scott was able to
capture Mexico City.
In 1848, the U.S. signed the
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
and gained the land known as
the Mexican Cession.
Who fired the first shots of the Mexican American
War?
2. What are the details of the Treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo?
3. Why did the U.S. in 1853 acquire the Gadson
Purchase from Mexico?
1.
1.
2.
3.
The dispute between the U.S. and Mexico was based upon the
location of the Texas and Mexico border. The U.S. claimed the
Rio Grande as the border and Mexico claimed the Nueces
River. President James K. Polk sent in troops to patrol the
border along the Rio Grande knowing it may cause the start of
the war. Sure enough Mexican soldiers fired upon the U.S.
soldiers and the war was on.
Mexico gave up half of all its territory which included present
day states such as California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New
Mexico. Also parts of Wyoming and Colorado. The U.S.
agreed to pay Mexico $15 million and promised to protect
80,000 to 100,000 Mexicans living in the newly acquired U.S.
lands.
For $10 million, the U.S. acquired the Gadson Purchase
because it was relatively flat and could be used to build a
railroad.
 For most Americans in the early 1800s, the West was mostly
a blank map. By 1850, it had become the land of
opportunity. The West boasted wide-open spaces and great
wealth in timber, gold, silver, and other natural resources.
It became a magnet for immigrants and for easterners
looking for a new start in life. As Americans began their
westward trek, they created new markets for eastern
merchants. In time, the West changed the nation’s
economy and politics. It also created folklore of “rugged
individualism” that has become a lasting part of American
culture. So in this part you should be able to answer the
question, What were the motives, hardships, and legacies
of the groups that moved west in the 1800s?
 The most famous explorer expedition was that of
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark along the Missouri
River in 1804-1806. The purpose of their expedition was to
explore and map out the Louisiana Territory. With the
help of Indian groups along with Sacajawea, they were able
to accomplish their mission.
 Other explorers included Zebulon Pike who sent back
reports of the southern part of the Louisiana Territory and
John C. Fremont who explored the region between the
Mississippi Valley and the Pacific Ocean.
 The reports back of the explorers blazed the trail for
Americans to begin their search out west for new
opportunities and riches.
 Mountain men went west
in search of furs which
were valuable to trade.
 They explored the west
and left personal
journals of their
adventures.
 Californios gave us
names for cities such as
San Diego, Los Angeles,
and San Francisco.
 Also new crops such as
grapes, olives, and citrus.
 Our vocabulary is
influenced with words
such as stampede,
canyon, and patio.
 Purpose for their moving
was to convert the
Indians.
 In the process, they were
the first to build
settlements in Oregon
Country.
 Women hoped to find new
opportunities which
included finding a
husband.
 Most of their time was
spent cooking, washing
clothes, and caring for
children.
 Women saw the need for
schools, churches, and
libraries.
 Women got the right to
vote in the West.
 Brigham Young brought
the Mormons to the
Great Salt Lake because
it would be isolated.
 The Mormons had faced
persecution back east
because of their beliefs.
 Went west to find gold.
 High prices made it
difficult to get ahead.
 Since so many people
moved there so quickly,
there was a lot of
lawlessness.
 California wrote up a
constitution to help stop
the chaos.
 Once people moved there
they stayed.
 The Chinese migrated
acroos the Pacific to find
gold and riches.
 They helped develop
agriculture in California.
 Most importantly they
brought their culture to
the West, such their art,
food, and sounds from
China.
 Most of the contributions from before dealt with
people who moved to the West; however, there was
already people in the West who would greatly
influence the area. These people were called the
Mexicano’s.
 The Mexicano’s contributions included in the areas of
mining, cattle ranching, cowboys, sheep raising, food,
architecture, laws, and entertainment.
 The U.S. expanded during the early 1800s with the
land acquisitions of Louisiana Territory, Florida, Texas,
Oregon Country, and Mexican Cession. All these
acquisitions have a story that you need to know.
 Once the lands were acquired, then the settling of the
land began. The people that settled the land created
and influenced a unique culture of the West. The
western part of the United States would look much
different than the eastern part. So it is important to
know the different groups and their legacy on the
West.