Manifest Destiny
Unit 7
Causes and Effects of
Manifest Destiny
United States
Territorial Acquisition Map
What is Manifest Destiny?
• The belief that the
United States was
destined by God
to expand
throughout the
Continent.
What was the Northwest Ordinance?
• Passed in 1787
and set up an
orderly way for
western lands to
become states.
How did the Northwest Ordinance
allow territories to become states?
• When the population
reached 5,000 the settlers
could elect their own
legislature and become a
territory.
• When the population
reached 60,000 they could
apply for full statehood.
Why did the United States grow
westward?
• Americans wanted land.
• Americans wanted gold.
• White Americans felt
superior to Native
Americans, Mexicans,
British, etc. (Racism).
What were the economic causes of
Manifest Destiny?
• Cheap land so that families
could farm for themselves.
• Opportunities to start
businesses.
• Maybe get rich quick with
gold.
What were the social causes of
Manifest Destiny?
• Racism.
• The belief that one
race is better than
others.
What were the political causes of
Manifest Destiny?
• As American
territories grew
westward. States
had to decide to be
free or slave.
• People moved to
turn states free or
slave.
What were the effects of Manifest
Destiny?
• The United States got
bigger.
• Native Americans and
Mexicans lost territory.
• The United States became
an emerging world power.
The U.S. Mexican War
What was the Texas Revolution?
• Texas was a part of
Mexico but revolted and
became its own country
in 1836.
• Texas wanted to be
annexed (become a
state) for safety and
money reasons.
Why was Texas Annexation
controversial?
• Texas was annexed
(admitted as a state)
in 1845.
• Mexico was upset
because they felt
Texas still belonged
to them.
What border issue led to the U.S.
Mexican War?
• Mexico and the United
States disagreed about
their border (Nueces River
v. Rio Grande).
• The Mexican and U.S. army
fought in conflicted area
and the U.S. Mexican War
began.
Why is the U.S. Mexican War seen as
a “War of Northern Aggression”?
• The U.S.-Mexican
War was an attempt
to gain more land.
• The border fight was
just an excuse for
war.
What is the Treaty of GuadalupeHidalgo?
• Treaty that ended the U.S.
Mexican War in 1848.
• The United States gained
California, Arizona, New
Mexico, Colorado, Utah,
and Nevada (CANCUN).
What is the Mexican Cession?
• The Mexican Cession are
the lands that Mexico lost
to the United States in the
Treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo.
• California, Arizona, New
Mexico, Colorado, Utah,
and Nevada (CANCUN).
What was the Gadsden Purchase?
• Land purchased in
1854 for 10 million
dollars.
• The land purchased
allowed for a
transcontinental
railroad (across the
nation).
Other Territorial Gains
What was the Louisiana Purchase?
• 1803. Purchased
from France for 25
million dollars.
• Doubled the size
of the United
States.
How did the United States gain the
Oregon Territory?
• The Oregon
Territory was
established in a
compromise with
the British in 1846.
What was Seward’s Folly (Alaska)?
• Alaska was
purchased from
Russia by William
Seward for 7.2
million dollars.
Trails and Migration During
Manifest Destiny
What was the Mormon Trail?
• Mormons were
being threatened for
their religious ideas
and traveled to Utah
from Missouri and
Illinois from 18461868.
Why is the Mormon Trail
important?
• Mormons used the trail
to practice their religious
freedom, just like the
Puritans and Pilgrims.
• Mormons turned Utah
from a desert into a
successful community.
Utah Before
Utah After
What was the Santa Fe Trail?
• Route or road from
Mexico City and
Mississippi River that
went through Santa
Fe, New Mexico.
Why is the Santa Fe Trail
important?
• Important for trade,
used as the invasion
route for the U.S.
during the U.S.Mexican War.
What was the Oregon Trail?
• Trail used from 1811
until the 1890’s.
• Trail was from the
Mississippi River to
Oregon.
Why is the Oregon Trail important?
• Over 400,000 used
the trail and it
helped populate the
west of the United
States.
Physical Geography and
Manifest Destiny
What is Physical Geography?
• The climate, soil,
rivers, mountains,
and vegetation of a
place.
Why is the Mississippi River
important?
• The largest river in
the United States.
• The river is used
for transportation
and for farming.
Why are the Great Plains
important?
• Flat land without hills,
mountains, and very few
trees.
• The water underneath
the ground (aquifers)
made the Great Plains
great farmland.
Why are the Rocky Mountains
important?
• The highest mountains in
the United States.
• The Rockies are very hard
to cross which made the
U.S. buy the Gadsden
Purchase.
Why was the Pacific Ocean
important?
• The largest Ocean in
the world.
• The Pacific Ocean
was the goal
destination of
Manifest Destiny.
How did physical geography cause
the California Gold Rush?
• The gold in California
brought thousands of
people to the state.
• First step in making
California the most
populous state in America.
Manifest Destiny and People
How did Manifest Destiny affect
the lives of millions of people?
• During Manifest Destiny,
thousands of miles of land
became American.
• Some groups lost land,
others gained land and
opportunity.
• Everyone’s life was changed.
How did Manifest Destiny affect
Native Americans?
• Native Americans
lost most of their
land during Manifest
Destiny and were
often moved to
remote reservations.
How did Manifest Destiny affect
Europeans?
• Europeans from
many countries, but
mostly Irish, British,
and Germans came
to America looking
for land, work, and
religious freedom.
How were the Irish-Americans
treated in America?
• Irish Americans were
discriminated
against because they
were Catholic and
poor.
How were Asian-Americans treated
in America?
• Asian Americans
were treated unfairly
because of racism
and they were seen
as competition for
work.
How were Mexican-Americans
treated in America?
• Mexican-Americans
were given
citizenship in the
Treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo, but they
were discriminated
against heavily.