Manifest Destiny Unit 5-1

What is Manifest Destiny? Idea the it was our “God-given” right to control coast to coast (artic to tropics too?) in America “American Race” idea

Frontier Thesis Frederick Jackson Turner (historian) – We were great because we could always grow/expand. Why move west? ◦ Land (CHEAP LAND!) What were the problems? ◦ Indians and now other countries too

What is in the way of Manifest Destiny? 1832

Before the 1830s, how did we get what we already had? Treaty of Paris 1783 ◦ After Revolutionary War the area from Appalachian Mts to Mississippi River Louisiana Purchase 1803 ◦ From France - $15 million Adams-Onis Treaty 1819 ◦ From Spain after 1 st Seminole War for $5 million How did Europe’s conflicts benefit the young United States?

Why would different sections want the U.S. to expand? The South ◦ Expansion of slave states The East ◦ More markets for products/resources The “West” (Mississippi valley/Great Lakes area) ◦ Frontier “spirit”, land ◦ Pioneer Spirit ◦ Rugged Individualism

Where can we go and what is the problem? Cuba ◦ Spain owns it Texas ◦ Mexico owns it California and southwest ◦ Mexico owns it Oregon Territory ◦ Not sure who owns it. Mexico, Russia, U.S. and Britain all have claims

Western Trails Santé Fe Trail ◦ Begins in Independence, Mo ◦ Traders to Santé Fe ◦ Created more interest into Mexican-owned territory Oregon Trail ◦ Begins in Independence, Mo ◦ To Willamette Valley (Portland) Oregon ◦ What are some of the dangers faced on the trail?

Oregon Started with Fur Traders and missionaries ◦ John Jacob Astor ◦ Marcus and Narcissa Whitman Joint Occupation – U.S. and Britain both settled (ignored Russia and Mexico’s claims) “Fifty-four Forty or Fight” – slogan for those who wanted to fight Britain for it all 49 th Parallel – Peaceful boundary for most of the area

Cuba Texas and SW Southerners hoped to expand into this Spanish- held territory (with slaves) Tried to buy and even once a small group tried to take over by force. In early 1850s, the U.S. tried to buy it with the Ostend Manifesto, but anti-slavery members of Congress stopped it. We’ll look at that in next section.

What did the Presidents do with Manifest Destiny? Jackson and Van Buren ◦ Both avoided the issue as they knew the issue would bring up the issue of the expansion of slavery. Tyler and Polk (change Harrison to Polk on notes) ◦ Tyler supported expansion. Polk made it the central issue in the election of 1844 as he pushed to add Texas and Oregon. - Was Jackson right?

Election of 1844 Democrat – James K. Polk (darkhorse candidate) Whig – Henry Clay (yes, he is still here!) Issue – Expansion with Oregon and Texas

Misc. Manifest Destiny Info Clayton-Bulwer Treaty (1850) – idea of building a canal in Central America with Britain  Did we do it then? Aroostook “War” – Argument over Canadian-Maine border. Settled peacefully with Britain in 1842 by the Webster- Ashburton Treaty California Gold Rush

Misc. Sites DUnnw4&feature=related – state admission DUnnw4&feature=related - growth of a nation vCaDtQ&list=UUZYs757tACChkS- vjS1m66Q&index=53&feature=plcp – review video vCaDtQ&list=UUZYs757tACChkS- vjS1m66Q&index=53&feature=plcp

Reflection Questions How did the idea of Manifest Destiny contribute to the “American Dream?” How did the United States in the late 1700s and early 1800s benefit from the problems in Europe? How did our relationship with Great Britain change in the first half of the nineteenth century? What future problems would the United States face due to Manifest Destiny?