Chapter 9 Section 2: Manifest Destiny

Main Idea Americans decided to move west because they wanted to expand the United States from the Atlantic area to the Pacific area.

The Frontier Draws settlers Thomas Jefferson dreamed about the United States expanding it’s territory to become what he called an “empire for liberty”. After the War of 1812 ended, Americans began to explore the new Louisiana territory and they desired to expand their territory once again. Americans believed that if they moved westward and southward, it was “destined and ordained by God”.

The frontier draws settlers (Continued) Americans began to use the phrase “manifest destiny” as a way to show that they believed the United State’s destiny was to expand their territory to the Pacific Ocean and throughout the Mexican territory. There was plenty of land in the west and Americans believed that they could have a fresh start.

Knowledge check Where did Americans want to expand their territory? Why did people use the phrase “manifest destiny” to describe their need for expansion?

Settlers and native americans Due to the increasing amount of U.S. settlers moving West onto the Natives land causing Natives to give up their land. Some Natives tried to maintain and uphold their cultural traditions, while others tried to adapt to the settlers culture. Some Natives fought hard to keep their land which made the relationship between Settlers and Natives worse than it was before.

Settlers and native americans (continued) The Black Hawk War Settlers in Illinois and Iowa pressured Natives to move off of their land and West of the Mississippi River. Several representatives of Native tribes decided to visit Chief Black Hawk of the Sauk tribe to discuss what they saw in his future. The story was very convincing that Chief Black Hawk decided to lead a rebellion.

Settlers and natives (continued) Black Hawk War In April of 1832 the Black Hawk War began in Illinois and into the Wisconsin territory. The war began after Black Hawk, a group of Sauks, Meskwakis and Kickapoos known as the “British Band” crossed the Mississippi River into Illinois. The war lasted all the way until August of 1832 when Illinois militia members killed over 200 Sauk and Fox people resulting in the Natives being forced off their land.

Trails West The journey westward was also filled with dangers for traders and settlers from the U.S. Santa Fe Trail was established and it became one of the most busiest and well known avenues of trade. It led 780 miles from Independence, Missouri, to Santa Fe, and New Mexico. Each year, between 1821 and the 1860s, traders from Missouri would take wagons full of cloth, knives, and guns to Santa Fe.

Trails West (Continued) The wagons would travel by themselves to Council Grove, Kansas. After this, the traders created groups that contained about 100 wagons and they were led by scouts who checked for danger. This ended when they reached Santa Fe. Traders would branch away from their groups and tried to be the first to enter the Mexican province of New Mexico. These traders would go back and forth between the U.S. and New Mexico. This resulted in the establishment of the first visible American presence in New Mexico.

Trails West (Continued) The Oregon Trail Americans made their way to the Oregon territory and set up mission schools as a way to convert the Native Americans to Christianity and educate them. While there, they proved that wagons could travel on the Oregon trail, which started in Independence, Missouri, and ended in Portland, Oregon (Willamette Valley). About 5,000 American settlers arrived in Oregon by 1844.

Trails West (ConTINUED) The Mormon Migration One of the groups that decided to migrate westward was the Mormons. Mormon history began in 1830 when a man named Joseph Smith established the church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints in Fayette, New York. Smith and followers moved West in 1839. They settled in Nauvoo, Illinois. The population grew and protested against polygamy, the practice of having more than one wife. Smith destroyed their printing press and as a result, he was put in jail for treason. Later, an anti-mormon mob broke into the jail and killed Joseph Smith along with his brother.

Trails west (COntinued) In the early 1840’s G.B. still claimed areas in parts of what are currently Maine and Minnesota. The Ashburton Treaty of 1842 settled the disputes in the East and Midwest but both continued joint occupation of the Oregon Territory. In 1844 James K. Polk called for the annexation of the Oregon Territory and which later became known as “Fifty-four Forty or Fight”

Trails west (continued) Due to the decline of the the fur trade Great Britain’s interest in the Oregon Territory declined. In 1846, the two countries to a peaceable agreement to extend the mainland boundary with Canada along the 49th parallel Westward from the Rocky Mountains to Puget Sound

Activity directions Work with the individuals at your table One person from the class can keep score Whichever table wins gets a prize tomorrow! We’re going to ask you five questions! Get your notes ready

Chapter 9 Section 2: Manifest Destiny By:Janell Alexander, Nikayla Gordon, Patrick High, and Keiyonte Ugbesia