Manifest
Destiny
manifest: clear or obvious
destiny: future or fate
SWBAT: Determine how Americans
justified Westward Expansion
John Gast, American Progress, 1872
2
Questions to Consider
• Who are the people moving from the right side of the
painting to the left side of the painting?
• What do you notice is different about the left side of the
painting compared to the right side of the painting?
• Who lived in the West during this time?
• How would you describe the woman at the center of
the painting?
• What does the artist think about Manifest Destiny? Do
you agree with that position?
• Do you think that the West was dark and American
settlers spread the light? Explain.
• What would Native Americans and Mexican settlers
3
have thought?
Map of the United States, 1872
• By 1872, the United States had already expanded to the Pacific Ocean.
• Post-Louisiana Purchase, after the War with Mexico.
4
• The painting is basically celebrating what had already happened.
Contemporary Map of the 1816 U.S.
• But in 1816, we hadn’t spread that far yet.
• This is before the annexation of Texas and the Mexican War.
5
John Melish, Map of the U.S. with the contiguous
British and Spanish Possessions,1816
6
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.
7
Contextualize
• With your partner, use the two documents
written by John O’Sullivan to:
1. Contextualize the information
(Who, What, When, Where, Why, How?)
2. Broaden the context (How is the topic
similar to a different time? U.S. History
only!)
3. Respond to the DBQs with your partner
8
9
Manifest Destiny
Term used to express the
idea that Americans were
destined by God to settle
North America from the
Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean
Spread democracy &
republicanism
But whose version of
Spread Protestantism republicanism & democracy?
Support American’s
growing population
10
Manifest Destiny
Reasoning:
• Christian duty/mission to extend
(God-given right to)
• Civilize the “Natives”; racial
superiority (moral duty)
• Safety valve (release population
“pressure” from the East)
• No boundary blocking us
11
Supporters Opponents
• Saw Manifest Destiny • Argued the land was
as God’s will
already claimed
• Argued it would
• Argued additional
stabilize economy,
land would make the
lessen population
US too large
pressures, & create
new markets
• Saw expansion as a
• Southerners just
way to provide more
wanted to expand
land for cotton
slavery into new
territories
12
Manifest Destiny
• Caused tensions with Native
Americans and Mexico
 Annexation of Texas & War with
Mexico
13
Wrap Up
• How did Americans justify Westward
Expansion?
• This theory that Americans are
special is called ______________
____________
What do you think about this theory?
• What issues did Westward
Expansion further aggravate?
14