Manifest Destiny
APUSH - SPICONARDI
John Gast, American Progress
John Melish Map (1816)
From Sea to Sea
“To present a picture of it was desirable in every point of view. The map so
constructed, shows at a glance the whole extent of the United States territory
from sea to sea; and in tracing the probable expansion of the human race
from east to west, the mind finds an agreeable resting place on its western
limits. The view is complete, and leaves nothing to be wished for. It also adds
to the beauty and symmetry of the map; which will, it is confidently believed,
be found one of the most useful and ornamental works ever
executed[created] in this country.”
–John Melish, 1816
John O’Sullivan’s Argument
John O’Sullivan was an American
columnist and editor. Read his
“Great Nation of Futurity.”
Oregon Trail
Oregon Fever
After the U.S. Navy published a
report about the excellent
harbors of the Puget Sound,
interest in Oregon greatly
increased
In 1843, a thousand people with
____________gathered in
Independence, MO to head out
west
 100 wagons
 5000 cattle
 More than 5,000 settlers would set
out over the next two years
 By 1860, 250,000 Americans braved
the Oregon Trail
 65,000 headed to Oregon
 185,000 head to California
Texas: To Annex or Not?
In 1844, President John Tyler called for the
annexation of Texas (supported by
southerners)
Tyler and his Secretary of State, John C. Calhoun,
sent treaty to Senate
Henry Clay and Martin Van Buren opposed annexation fearing
slavery would become a central issue
At the same time, northerners called for the
“reoccupation” of Oregon
“Fifty four forty or fight”
Pro-slavery, annexation supporting James K. Polk is
elected president since he linked annexation and
reoccupation.
But whose version of
republicanism & democracy?
Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny
Term used to express
the idea that Americans
were destined by God
to settle North
American from the
Atlantic to the Pacific
Ocean
Spread democracy and
republicanism
Spread Protestantism
Support American’s growing
population