Manifest Destiny
The belief that America should
spread from coast to coast!
“Manifest Destiny”
Belief that the US should expand its territory
from coast to coast
2
1. Who is the woman in white?
American Progress
by George A. Crofutt and John Gast
2. What two objects is she
holding?
3. What are the pioneers
doing?
4. What types of transportation
can be seen?
5. What are the Native
Americans and animals
doing?
6. What direction are they
traveling?
3
7. What is your opinion of
manifest destiny as it is
depicted in this painting?
Reasons for Manifest Destiny:
Political
 Fear
of foreign powers invading
 Spanish,
 Desire
French, English, and Mexican
to spread Democracy and the “American”
way of life
 Desire to spread the institution of slavery
Reasons for Manifest Destiny:
Economic
 Belief
that people could become more wealthy
(Gold rush, natural resources)
 Land speculators bought huge tracts of land and
sold it for a profit
Reasons for Manifest Destiny: Social
 Racism
 Escape
from religious persecution (Mormons)
 Famine and economic struggles
 Irish
potato famine (145-1850)
 Belief
that all people should own plot of land to
keep the country free
 “American
Dream”
US Territorial Expansion
When?
• 1776
From Where?
A - 13 Original
Colonies
A
• Great Britain
Why?
• US declared
independence
from Great Britain
7
US Territorial Expansion
B - Western Lands
When?
• 1783
From Where?
• Great Britain
Why?
A
• Results of
Treaty of
Paris (ended
Revolutionary
War)
B
8
When?
• 1803
From Where?
• France
US Territorial Expansion
C - Louisiana
Purchase
Why?
• Napoleon
needed $
C
• Jefferson
wanted to buy
New Orleans
• He got all of
this instead!
9
A
B
US Territorial Expansion
When?
D - Florida
• 1819
From Where?
• Spain
Why?
• Andrew
Jackson
invaded
• Spain then
sold it to us
for $5 million
C
A
B
D
10
Thinking Question
(don’t write this down!! Just think!)
Why weren’t Americans happy with the size of
their country at this point in their history?
11
Mr. Manifest Destiny

James K. Polk
•
Elected President in 1844
•
11th President
•
•
We have skipped a few… 
Added more territory to the
US (by any means) than
any other President
12
Texas Independence

March 1, 1836: Texas
declared Independence




Elected Sam Houston as
President
Houston’s troops attacked
Santa Ana at San Jacinto
in April 1836
Under force, Santa Ana
signs Treaty of Velasco
Mexican government
rejected the treaty and
never recognized Texas
Independence
U.S. Annexation of Texas

Texas immediately ask for
annexation by U.S.

Annexation: to incorporate
a territory into another
North opposes because
they fear spread of slavery
 Texas remains an
independent nation until
March 1, 1845
 Mexico sees annexation as
a declaration of war

Factors Leading to Mexican-American
War
 Mexican
anger over annexation of Texas (1846)
 Dispute over Texas/Mexican border
 Nueces
River or Rio Grande
 Instability
 19
 Polk
of Mexican government
governments in 25 years
Administration’s drive to expand U.S.
 Polk
saw his mandate as creating a coast-to-coast
nation
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Terms:


Recognized Texas as part of the
U.S.
Gave up the Mexican Cession
(1848)




Created Rio Grande as
international border
In 1853 Gadsden Purchase
solidifies southern boundary


Annexed half of Mexico to the U.S.
U.S. Paid $15 million to Mexico for
territory.
Mexico sells it to us for $10
million
“from sea to shining sea”
Oregon: 54° 40’ or Fight!

In his campaign, Polk talked
about taking all of Oregon

54° 40’ or Fight! Was on of his
slogans
Rather than fight, he settled
for half
 U.S. and Britain decide to
divide Oregon

Extended the boundary already
dividing the U.S. and Canada
 Boundary remains today

US Territorial Expansion
When?
•1845
From Where?
E - Texas
•Republic of Texas
Why?
•Texas independent
from Mexico in 1836
C
•Northerners feared
it would become a
slave state
•Annexed in 1845
despite Northern
fears
E
18
A
B
D
When?
•1846
US Territorial Expansion
F - Oregon Territory
From Where?
•Great Britain
Why?
•Claimed by four
countries (Britain,
Russia, Spain, &
US)
F
C
•Americans
demanded “54° 40’
or fight!”
•Britain
compromised 49°
& US accepted
E
19
A
B
D
When?
•1848
US Territorial Expansion
G - Mexican Cession
From Where?
•Mexico
Why?
•Polk offers to buy
“G” from Mexico &
they refuse
F
C
•War!
G
A
B
•US wins
•In Treaty of
Guadalupe
Hidalgo, US offers
$15 million for “G”
E
20
D
California Gold Rush and the 49-ers!


James Marshall was building a
sawmill when he spotted gold in the
river
Word got out and people from all over
the world raced to California in 1849



Nick-named the Forty-Niners
Thousands of men hoped to get
rich quick then go home


Mexico, South America, Europe,
Australia, China- 20,000!
The majority did not gain any wealth
and could not afford to return home
By 1852, all of the gold was gone
but California now had a
population of over 250,000

Could now become the first state in
the West
When?
•1853
US Territorial Expansion
F- Gadsden Purchase
From Where?
•Mexico
Why?
• Wanted it to build
a railroad
F
C
•Sold it to U.S. for
$10 million
• Part of today’s
Arizona and New
Mexico
• Solidifies our
southern border
G
F
E
22
A
B
D
Jigsaw: Trails West


You will be researching 3 of the main trails used by settlers during Manifest
Destiny
You will find your information:


Each person in your “home group” (based on group number) will be researching a
different trail:





Creating America pgs. 379-381
Pink: Santa Fe
Green: Oregon
Orange: Mormon
You will move from your “home group” to an “expert group” where all three of
you will be researching the same trail (based on color)
Once your expert group has read and found the required information, each of you
will return to your “home group” and teach the other 2-3 people about your trail