Manifest Destiny
AMERICA EXPANDS
Set Up Cornell notes on IN Pages
 Title: Manifest Destiny
 Essential Question: How did Manifest Destiny lead
to the development of the Western United States?
What is “Manifest Destiny?”
 Belief that the US should expand its territory
from coast to coast
 It was “Obvious” that the United States should
expand its territory.
Understanding Manifest Destiny
"(It is) ..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"
-John O'Sullivan
Democrat
Editor of 'The Morning Post'
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What is Manifest Destiny?
Belief that white Americans had a God-given right to occupy the
entire North American continent.
2. Any act of colonization and settlement at the expense of another
race can be said to be an expression of Manifest Destiny.
1.
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Manifest Destiny in 1840s America
Once the concept had been given the name
'Manifest Destiny' it became widely used,
appearing in newspapers, debates, paintings
and advertisements. It became the leading light
for westward expansion
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The Homestead Act
•1841
•Government of America passed an act that allowed people to
purchase 160 acres of Plains land for a very small price
•Act passed in 1862 divided 2.5 million acres of Plains land into
sections or homesteads of 160 acres
•People could now claim 160 acres of land
•The only requirement on their part was that they paid a small
administration charge and built a house and lived on the land for at
least 5 years
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So, How has our
nation grown?
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US Territorial Expansion
When?
•1776
A - 13 Original Colonies
From Where?
•Great Britain
Why?
•US declared
independence from
Great Britain
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A
US Territorial Expansion
When?
•1783
B - Western Lands
From Where?
•Great Britain
Why?
•Part of results of
Treaty of Paris
(ended
Revolutionary War)
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A
B
US Territorial Expansion
When?
•1803
C - Louisiana Purchase
From Where?
•France
Why?
•Napoleon needed $
•Jefferson wanted to
buy New Orleans
•He got all of this
instead!
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C
A
B
US Territorial Expansion
When?
•1819
D - Florida
From Where?
•Spain
Why?
•Andrew Jackson
invaded
•Spain then sold it to
us for $5 million
C
A
B
D
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US Territorial Expansion
When?
•1845
E - Texas
From Where?
•Republic of Texas (Independent Country)
Why?
•Texas independent from
Mexico in 1836
•Northerners feared it would
become a slave state
•Fears finally overcome in
1944 Presidential election
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C
E
A
B
D
Warm-Up (IN Page 131 TOP)
 What is Manifest Destiny?
Manifest Destiny is…
 Who came up with the term Manifest Destiny?
______ came up with the term Manifest Destiny.
 Describe the Homestead Act.
The Homestead Act was…
US Territorial Expansion
When?
•1846
F - Oregon Territory
From Where?
•Great Britain
Why?
•Claimed by four countries
(G. Britain, Russia, Spain, &
US)
•Americans demanded
“54° 40’ or fight!”
•Britain compromised 49°
& US accepted
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F
C
E
A
B
D
US Territorial Expansion
When?
•1848
G - Mexican Cession
From Where?
•Mexico
Why?
•Polk offers to buy G from
Mexico & they refuse
F
C
•War!
•US wins
•In Treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo, US offers $15
million for G
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G
E
A
B
D
“American Progress” by John Gast, 1872
Manifest Destiny
 Select six characters from the drawing below (you may
include animals), and create speech or thought bubbles
for each one. In each bubble, write one or two sentences
describing the character’s thoughts of feelings. Within
each bubble, use one of the terms listed below. If
necessary, write your sentences as captions in the space
around the drawing. Color the drawing to make it look
like the actual painting.
 Words to use: destroy, growth, justified, Manifest
Destiny, native people, other countries, progress,
territorial acquisition, United States