Manifest Destiny
America Expands
Westward
“Manifest Destiny”
 First coined by newspaper editor, John O’Sullivan in 1845.
 ".... 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."
 A myth of the West as a land of romance and adventure
emerged.
Other Reasons for Westward
Expansion (CAUSES):
Escape religious persecution
Find new markets for trade
Claim land for farming, ranching, and
mining
Locate Pacific harbors
Spread democracy!
How are these ideas of “Manifest Destiny” reflected in the following
pieces of artwork?
“American Progress” by John Gast
 “Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way” by Emanuel Leutze
The Pony Express
 Between April, 1860 and Nov., 1861.
 Delivered news and mail between St.
Louis, MO and San Francisco, CA.
 Took 10 days.
 Replaced by the completion of the
trans-continental telegraph line.
Sectional Differences Emerge
Missouri Territory applies for statehood
Why is this a problem?
There are an equal number of slave/free states,
Missouri would tip the balance
Henry Clay – Missouri
Compromise (1820)
Missouri = slave
Maine = free
(split from
Massachusetts)
36-30 line:
north= free,
south = slave
Missouri Compromise
Expansion, Conflict, &
War in Texas
Sam Houston
“Remember the Alamo!”
Expansion & Conflict in Texas
 1. Why did Mexico want Americans to settle in
Texas?
 To help defend and develop the province
economically
 2. Why did Americans want to settle in Texas?
 Abundant, cheap, fertile land with a small
population
3. What brought American settlers into conflict with
the Mexican government?
 They did not convert to Roman Catholicism
(remained Protestants) & they ignored Mexico’s ban
on slavery
4. What happened at the
Alamo?
 Texas rebelled against
Mexican rule
 Santa Anna attacks the
Alamo to put down the
rebellion
 12 days of fighting, Mexico wins, then kills every
prisoner; “Remember the Alamo!”
* Video
Key Figures in Texas Independence, 1836
Sam Houston
(1793-1863)
Steven Austin
(1793-1836)
The Republic of Texas
Remember the Alamo!
Davey Crockett’s Last Stand
The Battle of the Alamo
 5. Why was the U.S. at first reluctant to annex
Texas?
 Northern Democrats did not want to add
another big, powerful slave state
 6. What promises did
Polk make to help
him win the election
(of 1844)?
 To make Northern
Democrats happy, he
promises to get all of
Oregon from Great
Britain or go to war;
*“54-40 or Fight!”*
Why did Polk need to satisfy the
interests of Northerners
specifically?
54 Line
 7. What did Polk do
that left many
Northern Democrats
feeling betrayed?
 To avoid war with
Great Britain, Polk
compromised on
Oregon in order to
fight Mexico (British
kept what became
British Columbia)