Manifest Destiny
The belief that America should
spread from coast to coast
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 federative development of self-government entrusted
to us... suitable for the full expansion of its principle and destiny of
growth."
Political Pursuits
• Fear of Spanish, French, English, and
Mexican power
• Desire to spread Democracy and the
American way of life.
• Desire to spread the institution of
slavery
Economics
(Why we do anything at all)
• Belief that people could become more
wealthy…that life could and would get
better
• (Gold rush, natural resources.)
• Land speculators bought huge tracts of
land and sold it for a profit
• (SF land bought @ $15 and sold @
$45,000)
Social Motivations
• Racism
• Escape from religious persecution
(Mormons)
• Belief that all people should own plot of
land to keep the country free
• People wanted to find new ways of life,
adventure
“American
Progress” by
John Gast 1872
Mountain Men- Fur Trapping
• Very few whites moved
to the west after Lewis
and Clark exploration
• Still high demand for
furs, especially beavers
for hats
• Eastern part of U.S. had
been trapped out
• Mountain Men went out
west to trap in the Rocky
Mountains
Mountain Men- Lure of the West
• Major contributions:
– Trailblazing, finding new routes and
mountain passes, mapping the West
– Made it easier for later pioneers
– Interactions, building relationships
with Native Americans
– Brought business, economy to the
West
Mountain Men- Lure of the West
• Before long, the Mountain Men were not alone
in the West
• Land Speculators- bought up huge amounts of
land cheap and resold at a profit (SF)
• Manufacturers and Merchants
• People looking for a new start, adventure
From Sea to Shining Sea
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Louisiana Purchase 1803
Mexican Independence 1821
Indian Removal 1830
Texas Independence 1836
Oregon Territory 1840’s-1846
Texas Annexation 1845
Bear Flag Revolt 1845
War with Mexico 1846-1848 results in
CA, NV,NM
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylwV
3QQ2TT0&feature=fvst 4 min
The Oregon Dispute: 54’ 40º or Fight!
 By the mid-1840s,
“Oregon Fever” was
spurred on by the promise
of free land.
 James K. Polk elected
President
 The joint British-U. S.
occupation ended in
1846 @ 49ºN.
The Oregon Trail – Albert Bierstadt, 1869
Oregon “Fever”
• Why would people risk their lives to take a
2,000 mile trip across dangerous,
unknown territory?
• In 1830s and 1840s exaggerated stories
came back from early pioneers– Sun always shone
– Wheat grew as tall as a man
– Free or cheap land
– Many stories came from land speculators
Oregon “Fever”
• The journey west was made to look
adventurous, exciting- reality?
Oregon Trail
• 2000 miles from
Independence,
Missouri to Oregon
• Pioneers traveled in
wagon trains for
safety, organization
• Reality- danger,
disease, exhaustion
Spanish Texas
• The Spanish had
been in the
Americas since
Columbus in 1492.
• Spain owned a large
part of North
America, including
Texas.
Tejanos
• In 1821, only about 4,000 Tejanos lived
in Texas.
• Tejanos are people of Spanish heritage
who consider Texas their home.
• The Spanish government tried to attract
Spanish setters to Texas, but very few
came.
Moses Austin
• An American, Moses
Austin was given
permission by the
Spanish government to
start a colony in Texas.
• All the Americans had to
do was follow Spanish
laws.
• Moses died in 1821, so
his son Stephen tried to
start the colony.
In 1821, Mexico won
independence from Spain
Mexican Independence
Changes Texas
• The Mexican government
told Stephen Austin his
settlers would have to
become Mexican citizens
and members of the Roman
Catholic Church, and learn
Spanish.
• Between 1821 and 1827,
Austin attracted 297
families to his new
settlement.
Santa Fe Trail
• Missouri to New
Mexico- 800 miles
• New trading areas in
the SW
• Spanish had kept
Americans out, but
now Mexico was
independent and
wanted trade
• Dangerous but
profitable
• The success of Austin’s colony
attracted more land speculators and
settlers to Texas from the United
States. Some were looking for a new
life, some were escaping from the
law, and others were looking for a
chance to grow rich.
• By 1830, the population had swelled
to about 30,000,with Americans
outnumbering the Tejanos six to one.
Rising Tensions in Texas
• In 1829, the Mexican government outlawed
slavery.
• The settlers wanted to keep their slaves so
they could grow cotton.
• The Americans also didn’t want to learn
Spanish or follow Mexican laws.
• Very few settlers had converted to
Catholicism.
1. In 1829, the Mexican government closed
the state to further American immigration.
2. Texans had to start paying taxes for the
first time.
3. Mexican president, General Antonio Lopez
de Santa Anna sent more Mexican troops
to Texas.
4. Texans began talk of breaking away from
Mexico.
5. When Stephen Austin was jailed, the
Texans did revolt.
6. Santa Anna led 6,000 troops to Texas to
put down the revolt.
The Alamo
7. The first battle
between the
Texans and
Mexicans took
place at on old
mission that
was used as a
fort.
• It was called the
Alamo.
The Fight for the Alamo
9.
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There were only 183 Texans guarding the Alamo.
The Mexican army had 1,800 men.
The Texans held the Alamo for twelve days.
On the thirteenth day, Santa Anna ordered his men to
storm the fortress.
When it was over, all but five Texans were dead. The men
not killed in the battle were executed by Santa Anna.
Texans were shocked by the slaughter at the Alamo and
vowed to fight for their freedom.
Battle at San Jacinto
10.Santa Anna had over 300 more Texans
executed at Golidad.
11.Texan general, Sam Houston gathered
more troops, 800 in all.
• It included Tejanos, American settlers,
volunteers from the United States, and
many free and enslaved African
Americans.
• They met Santa Anna at San Jacinto.
Remember the Alamo
• Their battle cry was, “Remember the
Alamo!”
12.It was over in 18 minutes. About half the
Mexican army was killed. The rest were
taken as POW’s.
13.Santa Anna was captured the next day
and was forced to sign a treaty giving
Texas its freedom.
14.Texas was now an independent country.
General Santa Anna
surrenders to General Houston
Lone Star Republic
• In 1836, Texas declared
itself The Lone Star
Republic.
• Sam Houston was elected
president.
• Some Americans wanted
Texas to be part of the U.S.
• Some people were afraid of
Texas becoming a slave
state, others of war with
Mexico.
The Bear Flag Republic
The Revolt  June 14, 1845
John C. Frémont
 Mexican recognition of the Rio
Grande River as the TX-US border.
 US would forgive American citizens’
claims against the Mexican govt.
 US would purchase the New Mexico
area for $5,000,000.
 US would California at any price.
John Slidell
Wilmot Proviso, 1846
Provided, territory from that, as an express
and fundamental condition to
the acquisition of any the Republic of
Mexico by the United States, by virtue
of any treaty which may be negotiated
between them, and to the use by the
Executive of the moneys herein
appropriated, neither slavery nor
involuntary servitude shall ever exist in any
part of said territory, except for crime,
whereof the party shall first be
duly convicted.
Congr. David Wilmot
(D-PA)
The
Mexican
War
(1846
-1848)
General Zachary Taylor at Palo Alto
“Old Rough and Ready”
The Bombardment of Vera Cruz
General Scott Enters Mexico City
“Old Fuss and Feathers”
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 1848
Nicholas Trist,
American Negotiator
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 1848
The Treaty was forced on Mexico!
 Mexico gave up claims to Texas above the Rio Grande River.
 Mexico gave the U. S. California and New Mexico.
 U. S. gave Mexico $15,000,000 and agreed to pay the claims of
American citizens against Mexico (over $3,500,000).
Results of the Mexican War?
The 17-month war cost $100,000,000 and 13,000+ American lives (mostly
of disease).
New territories were brought into the Union which forced the explosive
issue of SLAVERY to the center of national politics.
* Brought in 1 million sq. mi. of land (incl. TX)
These new territories would upset the balance of power between North
and South.
Created two popular Whig generals who ran for President.
Manifest Destiny partially realized.
Mormon Trail
• Founded by Joseph Smith in 1830
• Were persecuted for their beliefs
• Traveled West to Utah to find a place to
practice their religion in peace
• 1847- about 1600 Mormons traveled from
Illinois to Utah- across Iowa!
• Settled near Salt Lake City