Manifest Destiny
1803-1853
The United States Expanded from
the Atlantic to the Pacific
in 50 years
1800-1850
Manifest Destiny
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Manifest Destiny – the belief that America was
destined to stretch across continent.
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From the Atlantic to the Pacific.
From the East coast to the West Coast
Popular among many for different reasons
Manifest Destiny became a gov’t policy under
James K. Polk (11th president)
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The goal of the United States of America to
obtain and govern all land westwards.
East to the ____________
Sea to _______
Atlantic to the ___________
From the Appalachians to the ___________
From New York to _____________
“American Progress”
“Star of
Empire”
Buffalo &
Indians are
driven into
obscurity
Carries a
schoolbook
Lady Liberty
…and
telegraph
wire
“The tools of
progress”
…as settlers
move westward
Political Reason

Britain ceded Northwest Territory to U.S. after
the American Revolution, eventually resulting in
Northwest Ordinance; expansion reduced
political power of Britain, France, and Spain in
region and increased global position and
strength of the U.S.
Social Reasons
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Strong nationalism (pride in country) belief that
U.S. was special (great experiment of liberty);
belief in racial superiority (people of English
decent); belief that God supported U.S.
expansion
Economical Reasons
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Growth in the U.S. economy increased demand
for (and value of) farmland, ranches, minerals,
and furs; the cotton gin increased the area in
which cotton could be grown profitably; the
discovery of gold attracted 80,000 people in
1849
US Territorial Expansion
When?
•1776
A - Original 13 Colonies
From Where?
•Great Britain
Why?
•US declared
independence from
Great Britain
A
When?
•1783
US Territorial Expansion
B - Western Lands
From Where?
•Great Britain
Why?
•Part of results of
Treaty of Paris
(ended
Revolutionary
War)
A
B
Louisiana Purchase:
1803
Thomas Jefferson bought the
Louisiana Territory from France for
$15 million.
Jefferson wanted to make sure the
U.S. had control of the Port of New
Orleans and the Mississippi River.
The Louisiana Purchase doubled
the size of the United States.
The U.S. stretched from the Atlantic
Ocean to the Rocky Mountains.
US Territorial Expansion
When?
•1803
From Where?
•France
C - Louisiana Purchase
Why?
•Napoleon needed $
•Jefferson wanted to
buy New Orleans
•He got all of this
instead!
C
A
B
Adams-Onis Treaty: 1819
The U.S. wanted to take Florida from
Spain because of attacks by
Seminole Indians and runaway
slaves in Georgia.
In 1819, President Monroe sent
General Andrew Jackson to Florida
to help protect the U.S. border.
Jackson invaded Florida and
overthrew the governor of Florida.
He had no direct orders from
President Monroe.
Spain gave Florida to the U.S. in
exchange for $5 million and control
of Texas.
When?
•1819
US Territorial Expansion
From Where?
D – Florida/ Adams-Onis
Treaty
•Spain
Why?
•Andrew Jackson
invaded
•Spain then sold
it to us for $5
million
C
A
B
D
Texas: 1830s
In 1821, Texas was a part of Mexico.
Stephen Austin was an empresario = agent
to bring settlers to Texas.
Stephen Austin brought the first 300 families to
Texas - known as the Old Three Hundred.
By 1830, 25,000 Americans were living in
Texas. They were required to become
Mexican citizens and become Catholic.
The Americans had to follow Mexican law.
When Americans complained, Mexico closed
Texas to further American immigration.
Stephen Austin
Texas Revolution: 183536
After Mexico closed Texas to Americans, Stephen
Austin went to negotiate with the Mexican leader,
Antonio López de Santa Anna.
Austin was jailed, and the Texans revolted.
In February 23- March 6, 1836, Mexico attacked
the Texans at the Alamo. This 13-day siege
resulted in the killing of all the Americans (except
some women, children and slaves).
In April, the Mexican army massacred the Texan
rebels at Goliad.
After the Alamo and Goliad, Sam Houston surprise
attacked Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto.
“Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!”
Texas won its independence.
Antonio Lopez
de Santa Anna
Texas Annexation: 1845
Santa Anna was captured and forced to sign
a treaty giving Texas its independence.
Texas became an independent nation in
1836 called the Lone Star Republic.
Sam Houston became President.
Annexation of Texas was delayed:
Worry that adding Texas as a slave
state would upset the balance between
free and slave states
Fear that annexing Texas would lead to
war with Mexico
Texas joined the U.S. and became the 28th
state in 1845.
Sam Houston
When?
•1845
US Territorial Expansion
From Where?
•Republic of Texas
(Independent Country)
Why?
•Texas independent from
Mexico in 1836
•Northerners feared it
would become a slave state
•Fears finally overcome in
1844 Presidential election
E – Texas Annexation
A
C
E
B
D
Oregon Country: 1846
In 1820, both the U.S. and Britain
claimed to own Oregon Country.
In the 1830s and 1840s, thousands of
American pioneers were going west to
settle in Oregon Country.
President Polk wanted all of Oregon to
the fifty-four fifty parallel. The American
people cried, “Fifty-four forty or fight.”
Britain wanted to avoid a war.
Britain and the U.S. compromised.
They split Oregon in half at the 49th
parallel. The U.S. got the southern half.
When?
US Territorial Expansion
F - Oregon Territory
•1846
From Where?
•Great Britain
Why?
•Claimed by four
countries (G. Britain,
Russia, Spain, & US)
•Americans demanded
“54° 40’ or fight!”
•Britain compromised
49° & US accepted
F
C
E
A
B
D
War with Mexico: 184648
The U.S. Army had better weapons and
equipment, but it was greatly outnumbered
by the Mexican forces and was poorly
prepared.
The U.S. took New Mexico territory without
a fight and claimed the territory.
Zachary Taylor defeats Santa Anna at the
Battle of Buena Vista.
U.S. troops under Winfred Scott (“old fuss
Battle
and feathers”) capture Mexico City.
This led to the Treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo, which ended the war.
of Buena Vista
When?
US Territorial Expansion
G - Mexican Cession
•1848
From Where?
•Mexico
F
Why?
•Polk offers to buy G
from Mexico & they
refuse
•War!
•US wins
•In Treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo, US offers $15
million for G
C
G
E
A
B
D
Gadsden Purchase:
1853
After the war with Mexico,
Americans wanted to guarantee
that any southern railroad to
California would be built
completely on American soil.
US paid $10 million for the
southern parts of Arizona and
New Mexico.
The existing boundary between
the U.S. and Mexico was fixed.
Obstacles
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Technology
Indian Tribes
Law and Order
Forests had to be cleared to make way for
new cities- ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT?
Technology
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Interchangeable Parts (1801)
Cotton Gin (1793) & McCormick Reaper
(1831) – accelerated farming
Steamboats (1807) & railroads (1850’s) –
provide faster movement of goods &
services
Telegraph (1837) – speeds up the pace of
business
Not Your Father’s Migration!
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Different kinds of people move
westward than had done during the
1600’s/1700’s (IN ORDER)
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Land Speculators overran the tribes
looking for quick profits & ignoring
treaties (which the gov’t also ignored)
“The Law” (Gov’t, Police) follow the
criminals
Religious Zealots - People who are
extremely religious