Manifest Destiny
History
Grades 9-12
By: Elizabeth Hastie
Forward
What is Manifest Destiny?
How were the lower class
citizens affected?
What’s the philosophy
behind Manifest Destiny?
How were the upper class
citizens affected?
How were the Native
Americans affected?
How were the Irish Immigrants
affected?
Please click on each icon to learn
about the different parts of
Manifest Destiny. If you have any
questions feel free to ask. Good
luck and have fun!
Click on the picture to
the right to answer the
multiple choice question
on Manifest Destiny.
How were the working class
citizens affected?
What was the final outcome and
affects of Manifest Destiny?
What is Manifest Destiny?
“Manifest Destiny is a term for the attitude prevalent during the 19th century
period of American expansion that the United States not only could, but was
destined to, stretch from coast to coast. This attitude helped fuel western settlement,
Native American removal and war with Mexico.”
Quote taken from: www.history.com/topics/manifest-destiny
Return to main menu
The Philosophy behind Manifest Destiny
“In 1845, a democratic leader and influential editor by the name of John L. O'Sullivan gave the movement its name. In an
attempt to explain America's thirst for expansion, and to present a defense for America's claim to new territories he wrote:
".... 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." (Brinkley 352)
Manifest Destiny became the rallying cry throughout America. The notion of Manifest Destiny was publicized in the papers
and was advertise and argued by politicians throughout the nation. The idea of Manifest Destiny Doctrine became the torch,
that lit the way for American expansion.”
Quote taken from: http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/essays/1801-1900/manifest-destiny/manifest-destiny---the-philosophy-thatcreated-a-nation.php
Return to main menu
How were upper class citizens affected?
Many upper class citizens were effected in the sense that although they had money
many had to move westward to keep up with the changing economy. There were all
types of new technologies and if your business didn’t keep up with the technology
you would get kicked down by the competition.
Return to main menu
How were working class citizens affected?
Lower and middle class farmers were affected by the large tracts of land
opened by territorial acquisitions and conquests. As the U.S. expanded
its reach west, new lands were opened up for settlement. Farmers,
shopkeepers, trappers and many other groups began settling in these
lands, starting new lives and expanding the U.S. economy
Return to main menu
How were lower class citizens affected?
Due to the expansion of American territory it gave many poor and
struggling families the opportunity for a new life out west. The land
westward was cheap and vast which gave the impoverished people
hope. Along with the expansion of territory came the expansion of the
economy, technology, and jobs. This gave many people the chance to
get jobs, make a living, and start a new life.
Return to main menu
How were the Native Americans affected?
“Many of the tribes in the Southeast were farmers, who were very successful and "civilized," yet they were
moved to Oklahoma. In Indiana, Illinois and Michigan, Native American people who were very active in trade,
who were trilingual and very good entrepreneurs, were forced to the plains of Kansas. Many of the people who
went into the West became Native American pioneers. They transformed the West because their cultures had
been so transformed in the East that they brought many tenants of American "civilization" into the West
themselves. It did have an impact upon the West. These people, however, forced many of the tribes indigenous
to the region further West and South against the Mexican frontier, which created problems for officials in
Mexico.”
Quote taken from: http://www.pbs.org/kera/usmexicanwar/prelude/md_native_american_displacement.html
Return to main menu
How were the Irish immigrants affected?
Many Irish immigrants came over during the great potato famine to
escape the turmoil and death. Most of the immigrants were very poor
and couldn’t afford to move West which hurt them greatly because that
was where all the new found money and jobs were. They normally lived
in very crowded and unhygienic conditions. Due to Americans hatred of
them they usually were left to work the jobs no one else wanted which
were unsafe and physically demanding.
Return to main menu
Overall outcome and affects of Manifest Destiny
“Expanding the boundaries of the United States was in many ways a cultural war as well. The desire
of southerners to find more lands suitable for cotton cultivation would eventually spread slavery to
these regions. North of the Mason-Dixon line, many citizens were deeply concerned about adding
any more slave states. Manifest destiny touched on issues of religion, money, race, patriotism, and
morality. These clashed in the 1840s as a truly great drama of regional conflict began to unfold.”
Overall the United stated grew their economy but with that came issues of slavery, territory, and
foreign relation issues.
Quote taken from: http://www.ushistory.org/us/29.asp
Return to main menu
Which group of people discussed in the activity worked
the jobs other people didn’t want?
A.) The Upper class citizens
B.) The Irish immigrants
C.) The Native Americans
Try Again
Good try but A.) The upper class citizens isn’t correct! The upper class
people usually owned their own business’ and lived in luxury.
Click arrow in the lower right corner to try again.
Return to question
Correct!
Great job! B.) The Irish immigrants is the correct answer!
Nice work, now click the arrow in the right hand corner to finish up.
Continue
Try Again
Nice try but C.) The Native Americans isn’t quite right. The Native
Americans had their own tribes and communities so they weren’t apart
of modern society.
Click the arrow in the right hand corner to try again.
Return to question
Excellent Job!
You completed all of the slides now please click on the arrow in the
right hand corner to return to the title slide so the your classmate can
begin.
Thank you!!!!
Return to title slide