Manifest Destiny HW#20

In what direction is he pointing towards? “Manifest Destiny”: MANIFEST DESTINY=“OBVIOUS FUTURE”: the belief that it was America’s destiny and responsibility to control all of North America, because it was God’s plan. In what direction is he pointing towards?

Economic Reasons Agriculture – Americans dream of owning their own land and farms Northern Businessmen – Create businesses in newly developing towns and cities in the West. Sea Merchants – Controlling Pacific Coast means ability to trade with Pacific countries Southern Slave Owners – Plantation land losing fertility, western lands offer new, fertile ground. More land means more wealth and political power!

Social Reasons Religious Mission – America was destined by God to expand to the Pacific and bring with it Christianity White Superiority – God had blessed Americans (White Americans) and whatever needed to be done to expand was acceptable. Progress – Americans could make better use of the land that those currently living there We brought God, technology, and civilization Population – Population was overflowing in the east because of high birth rates and IMMIGRATION

Political Reasons Nationalism – Spread democracy from sea to shining sea because it is the highest form of government National Security – Controlling land up to the Pacific would secure us against other nations A Place on the World Stage – By expanding we can become more powerful among the nations of the world.

How did Manifest Destiny lead to the Mexican-American War?

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) 1 year and 9 months later Mexico surrendered and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed. The U.S. gained: Boundary of Texas set at the Rio Grande Present-day states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. Parts of Colorado and Wyoming U.S. agreed to pay $15 million to Mexico

The Mexican Cession

Oregon territory The Oregon territory was divided between Britain and the U.S., but in 1846 the territory was split along the 49th parallel in a treaty agreement between Britain and the U.S. By 1848, Oregon became a US territory.

The Gadsden Purchase The Gadsden Purchase was an agreement between the U.S. and Mexico in 1854. The U.S. agreed to pay Mexico $10 million for a portion of Mexico that later became part of Arizona and New Mexico. The Gadsden’s Purchase provided the land necessary for a southern railroad

Acquisition Map

How did Americans justify westward expansion?