America’s “Manifest Destiny”
John O’Sullivan
The Great Experiment in Liberty!
The Republic of Texas, 1836
• Stephen Austin’s settlement, 1820s
– Immigration from the South
– Religion and Language
• Immigration cut off, 1830
– Too many “white guys”
– End of slavery
• Highlights of the War for Texan Independence, 1835
– The Alamo and Goliad
– Battle of San Jacinto, 1836
• Sam Houston
• United States won’t touch Texas, 1836
– The Lone Star Republic
– Affect on the United States
– Annexation Texas 1845…John Tyler
Joint Occupation of
Oregon/Columbia Territory
• Claims to Oregon Territory
– Spain, Russia, England, United States
– Treaty of 1819 – Adams-Onis Treaty
• Marcus Whitman
– Missionary Motive
– Physical proximity
• Election of 1844
– “54 40 or Fight!”
– 49th … Oregon Treaty, 1846
– Texas and Oregon
War with Mexico, 1846-1848
Boundary dispute…Rio Grande vs. Nueces Rivers
“Spotty” Lincoln
“Old Rough and Ready”
3-Pronged Attack to take Alta Mexico
Zachary Taylor, Winfield Scott, Stephen Kearny
The Bear Flag Republic, 1846
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, 1848
½ of Mexico…Alto Mexico…The Mexican Cession
Compromise of 1850
PopFact!!!
• Popular Sovereignty
– Stephen Douglas
– Most democratic
• New Fugitive Slave Law
– Liberty Laws
• Abolish slave trade in D.C.
– No auctions
• Admission of California as a free state
– No slave state to balance
• 10 million to Texas (northwest corner)
– Present day New Mexico
Legacy of Manifest Destiny?
• United States from sea to sea
– Atlantic to Pacific
– Transcontinental Railroad
– “Great American Desert”
• Increased sectionalism
– North, South, West Politics
• Civil War, 1860
– Interruption of settlement
– Homestead Act, 1862
• Expansionism outside continental borders
– American Imperialism