MANIFEST DESTINY
Definition
• Manifest Destiny means “obvious fate”
• 1845 John O’sullivan stated it was
America’s “manifest destiny to overspread
and possess the whole of the continent”
• He said “the God of nature and nations has
marked it for our own.”
FLORIDA CESSION
1819
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Spain controlled Florida
Seminole Indians from Florida would raid across
border into US attacking settlements
Andrew Jackson sent American troops into Florida to
stop attacks
President Madison warned Spain to stop the Indians
from raiding or giving the land to the US
Spain did not have the troops to do this
Fearing US would take the land, Spain sold it to the
US for $5 million
TRAIL OF TEARS
1835-1838
Background
• By 1820 only 125,000 Indians (creek,
Chickasaw, Cherokee, Choctaw, and
Seminole) lived east of Mississippi
• These tribes owned rich land that
southerners wanted for cotton growing
• 1830 congress passed the Indian removal
act-all Indians had to move west of
Mississippi
Trail of Tears
• Between 1835-1838 tribes were forced to
march to lands west of Mississippi
• Little food or shelter
• Many only allowed to take the clothes they
wore
• About ¼ of Indians died during the march
Alamo/ Texas Independence
Background
• In 1821, Mexico gained its independence from
Spain
• Mexican government invited Americans to live in
Texas ( part of Mexico (. Thought they would help
develop land, help control Indians
• Stephen Austin’s group granted 640 acres of
land each if they agreed to become Mexican
citizens, obey Mexican laws, worship in the
Catholic Church
• By 1830, 20,000 Americans in Texas—good land
for growing cotton
Background Continued
• More settlers come but do not obey the
rules set down by Mexican government
• Mexican government says no more
Americans allowed—worried they would
want to become part of US
• Mexicans try to enforce rules—Americans
get mad and the two begin fighting
Alamo
• At san Antonio, Texas 1836
• 188 Texans take cover in a mission, the
Alamo
• Fought for 12 days against Santa Anna's
forces but were all killed
• Defeat inspired other American troops to
find Santa Anna's army battle at san
Jacinto river Mexicans defeated
• Texas granted its independence
Texas Annexation
1845
Texas Annexation
• Annex means to add on to
• Texas has been an independent nation,
The Lone Star Republic, for 10 years.
• Some wanted it to become part of US,
others didn’t
• In 1845, Congress agreed to the
annexation
Oregon Territory
1846
Oregon
• Claimed by England, Spain, Russia and US
• 1818 Spain and Russia gave up their claims
because they had few settlers there
• In 1844 when Polk ran for President he ran on
the slogan 54 40’ or fight (northern latitude of the
territory).
• Neither Britain or the US wanted war so they
compromised on the territory. The US boundary
would be everything below 49.
• This later became the states of Oregon (1859),
Washington (1889) Idaho (1890)
Mexican War
1846-1848
Background
• There was also a border depute over
where the southern border of Texas
separated it from Mexico
• The US also wanted to buy part of
California and new Mexico as part of idea
of manifest destiny, Mexico wouldn’t sell.
Mexican War
• 1846 president Polk sends troops into disputed
area/fighting breaks out/Polk asks congress to
declare war
• By 1847 US controls California, new Mexico and
wins Mexico city.
• 1848 Mexico signs treaty of Guadalupe hidalgo.
• Mexico gave up claims to all of California and the
new Mexico territory. This is called the Mexican
cession. We paid Mexico $15 million
Gadsden Purchase
1853
Gadsden Purchase
• In 1853, US paid Mexico $10 million for a
strip of land that is now apart of Arizona
and New Mexico
• This finished the contiguous United States