Manifest Destiny
manifest: clear or obvious
destiny: future or fate
As you look at the picture:
Who is in the painting?
What is going on in the scene?
Why are they doing that?
If the painting is about Manifest
Destiny, what is it?
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John Gast, American Progress, 1872
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Map of the United States, 1872
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Contemporary Map of the 1816
United States
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John Melish, Map of the U.S. with the contiguous
British and Spanish Possessions,1816
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Melish’s comments on his 1816
map of the United States
To present the country this way was desirable . . .
The map shows at a glance the whole extent of the
United States territory from sea to sea.
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.
Source: John Melish. Map of the United States with the contiguous British
and Spanish Possessions. Philadelphia, 1816.
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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
if it was to become the greatest
nation in the world
1.
2.
3.
4.
Belief that white Americans had
a God-given right to occupy the
entire North American
continent.
Manifest Destiny was exercised
in 1492 by Christopher
Columbus and the Spanish
monarchs.
Pilgrim Fathers when they
landed at Plymouth Rock in
1620.
Any act of colonization and
settlement at the expense of
another race can be said to be
an expression of Manifest
Destiny.
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Manifest Destiny &
Western settlement
• Once the concept had been given the name 'Manifest Destiny' it became
the leading reason for westward expansion
• The Preemption Act of 1841 (Tyler)—U.S. gov’t allowed “squatters” (aka
“preempters”) on federal lands in the Plains (West) to purchase land for
$1.25/acre
– widely used by settlers in Kansas and Nebraska Territories (which were
opened to settlement in 1854)
• The Homestead Act of 1862 (Lincoln)—first of a series of federal acts that
gave those who applied a grant of 160 acres of unused federal land, called
a “homestead”
– Initially proposed as part of Northern “Free Soil” policies, rather than
expanding plantations
– Not open to Confederates; freed slaves and women could claim land
– Had to build a house and live on the land for at least 5 years
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US Territorial Expansion
When?
• 1783
From Where? Why?
• Treaty of Paris 1783
with Britain
(American
Revolution)
A - 13 Original Colonies
A
10
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US Territorial Expansion
When?
• 1783
From where?
• Britain
Why?
• Part of the result of
the Treaty of Paris
1783; includes
Northwest Territory
B - Western Lands
A
B
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US Territorial Expansion
When?
• 1803
From where?
• France
Why?
• Napoleon needed money to
continue funding war in
Europe
• Jefferson really only wanted
New Orleans for economic
reasons
• Instead, purchased all of this
land (not completely
constitutional)
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C - Louisiana Purchase
C
A
B
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US Territorial Expansion
When?
• 1819
From where?
• Spain
Why?
• Andrew Jackson invaded
Florida (although not
condoned by Monroe)
• Spain sold it to U.S. for $5
mil., rather than go to war
D - Florida
C
A
B
D
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Think:
• Why weren’t Americans happy with
the size of their country at this point
in their history?
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US Territorial Expansion
When?
• 1845
From where?
• Republic of Texas
(independent country;
once part of Mexico)
Why?
• Texas claims
independence from
Mexico 1836
• Northerners feared
another slave state
• Fears overcome in 1844
Presidential election
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E - Texas
C
A
B
E
D
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Key Figures in Texas Independence, 1836
Sam Houston
(1793-1863)
Stephen Austin
(1793-1836)
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Texas Independence
• In 1821, Mexico won its independence from Spain
and encouraged Mexicans and Americans to move to
the region called “Texas”
– The Spanish government tried to attract Spanish setters to
Texas, few took the offer
• Only about 4,000 Tejanos (people of Spanish heritage who
consider Texas their home) lived in Texas.
• American Moses Austin had prior permission to start
a colony in Texas; Americans just had to follow
Spanish laws.
– Moses dies 1821, son Stephen takes over
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Stephen Austin, Texans, and 1829
• With independence, Mexican gov’t says Austin and Americans must
become Mexican citizens, follow Catholicism, learn Spanish.
– 1821-1827, Austin attracts 297 families; success attracts U.S. land speculators,
settlers to Texas
– By 1830, 30,000 Americans, outnumber Tejanos 6:1
• In 1829, the Mexican government outlawed slavery, close state to
Americans, start taxing Texans
– Settlers want to keep slaves on their cotton plantations
– Americans refused to learn Spanish, follow Mexican laws, convert to
Catholicism
• Mexican president, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna sends Mexican
troops to Texas
– Texans began talk of independence from Mexico
– Austin jailed for refusal to cede power to military; Texans revolt
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Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie:
End of the legend
• Santa Anna led 6,000 troops
to Texas to put down the
revolt; first battle takes
place at an old Spanish
mission called the Alamo
• 183 Texans take on 1,800
Mexican soldiers; hold the
Alamo 12 days
– men not killed in the battle
were executed by Santa Anna
• Texans shocked by the
slaughter at the Alamo and
vowed independence
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Battle at San Jacinto:
“Remember the Alamo!”
• Santa Anna had over 300 more Texans executed
– Texan general Sam Houston gathered 800 troops, including Tejanos,
settlers, volunteers, and free and enslaved African Americans.
• At the town of San Jacinto, the Texans defeat half of the
Mexican army in 18 minutes
– Santa Anna forced to sign a treaty granting Texas independence.
– Texas an independent country
• In 1836, Texas declared itself The Lone Star Republic.
– Sam Houston as President
– Some wanted Texas to be part of the U.S., but Pres. Van Buren refused
the request
• afraid of Texas as a slave state, war with Mexico
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US Territorial Expansion
When?
• 1846
From where?
• Great Britain
• Why?
• Claimed by four
countries (Britain,
Russia, Spain, US)
• Americans demanded
“54°40’ or fight!”
• Britain compromised at
49°
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F - Oregon Territory
F
C
A
B
E
D
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Oregon Territory
 1840-1860: 250,000 move
west
 “Oregon Fever” promise of
free land
 Hardships faced by many of
those heading west
 New roles for women
 The Oregon Trail
 Donner Party
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US Territorial Expansion
When?
• 1848
Where?
• Mexico
Why?
• President James K. Polk
offers to buy land from
Mexico & they refuse
• War! (next class)
• In Treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo, US offers $15
million for land
F
C
G
B
A
E
D
G - Mexican Cession
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