Manifest Destiny and Westward
Expansion (1830-1845)
J.A.SACCO
“Manifest Destiny”
American Progress” by John Gast, 1872
“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.
“Manifest Destiny”
Manifest Destiny
Sen. Thomas Corwin
Pres. James K. Polk
Costs?
Benefits?
Primary Sources?
“Manifest Destiny”
Manifest Destiny had an immense impact on the
expansion of the U.S. .
 Oregon
 California
 Texas
 Caused the start of the Mexican
War and gained the SW of the U.S..
Conestoga Wagon
Overland Immigration to the
West
 Between 1840
and
1860, more than
250,000 people
made the trek
westward.
“Onward to Oregon”
 Oregon
jointly occupied by U.S. and
G.B. since 1818. Fur trade carried on by
both countries.
 G.B. claim based on 18th century
exploration of Capt. Cook. Establish
early British fur trade on Columbia R.
 U.S. claim from exploration of Lewis
and Clark in 1804. John Jacob Astor
establish early fur trade in 1811 along
Columbia River.
“Onward to Oregon”
Why Oregon?




Manifest Destiny- Propaganda of expansionist like
Hall J. Kelley who organized a society for the
settlement of Oregon.
Missionaries- Marcus/Narcissa Whitman reports of
climate/soil suitable for farming
Oregon Trail would eventually make the journey
possible
Foreclosure of farms because of the Panic of 1837
The Oregon Dispute: 54° 40’ or Fight!
 By the mid-1840s,
“Oregon Fever” was
spurred on by the
promise of free land.
 The joint British-U. S.
occupation ended in
1846. Americans want
entire region to 54°
40’.
 Polk not wiling to
fight Br. Already
involved with Mexico
 Eventually divide
Oregon at 49th
parallel
The Oregon Dispute: 54° 40’ or Fight!
 What
effect did the decision of
President Polk not to go to war against
Britain have on the Democratic Party?
Trails Westward
Dangers
along the
Trail?
The Doomed Donner Party
April, 1846 – April, 1847
Of the 83 members of the
Donner Party, only 45
survived to get to California!
The Great Southwest and California
The Great Southwest
Mexico
gained independence from Spain in 1821- 80,000 Mexicans in
region
By 1830- Mexico begins to encourage trade with United States over
Santa Fe Trail.
American goods traded for
Mexican horses, mules, beaver
pelts and silver. William
Becknell (1821) first in area.
The Great Southwest and California
California
 New
England merchants carry goods all
the way around South America to San
Francisco for animal hides produced by
“californios” ranchers. Trade a trickle in
1820’s and 1830’s.
 What event created the mad rush to
California in the 1840’s?
GOLD! At Sutter’s Mill, 1848
John A. Sutter
California Gold Rush, 1849
49er’s
Two Views of San Francisco, Early 1850s
 By 1860, almost 300,000
people had traveled the
Oregon & California
Trails to the Pacific
coast.