Manifest Destiny NCSCOS Goal 2 Page 18

Manifest Destiny Overview

Manifest Destiny -theory that the US should expand across the continent Americans believed they should possess all land for settlement Louisiana Purchase Doubled the size of the U.S., Americans move onto new land War of 1812 No challenges from foreigners in America, esp. England Lure of the West Most moved West to get land, trade goods, and face new challenges on the frontier When Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory, he dreamed that the U.S. would become an “empire for liberty” by expanding across the continent “with room enough for our descendants to the thousandth and thousandth generation.” In the 1840s, expansion fever gripped the country. Americans began to believe that their movement westward and southward was destined and ordained by God.

It is America’s “manifest destiny to overspread and to possess the whole of the continent…that the God of nature and nations has marked it for our own.” It is “God’s plan” to expand our “great experiment with liberty.” ~John O’Sullivan, 1845

Mormons Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints -religious group founded by Joseph Smith , 1827 Founded by the Book of Mormon written on 12 Tablets -Smith was killed by a mob denouncing his views People questioned views, success, and polygamy Joseph Smith and a growing band of followers decided to move west and settled in Illinois in 1839. Within five years, the community numbered 20,000. However, when Smith’s angry neighbors printed protests against polygamy, the Mormons’ practice of having more than one wife, Smith destroyed their printing press. As a result, in 1844 he was jailed for treason. An anti-Mormon mob broke into the jail and murdered Smith and his brother.

Mormons -Brigham Young led the group west to Utah, 1847 New leader took Mormons away from violence to Salt Lake City -formed a thriving community Learned to work together to farm very dry area Learned to irrigate the desert Helped others moving West

Texas -immigrants from U.S. move into Mexican Texas Stephen F. Austin leads the settlers Eventually more Americans in Texas than Mexicans -Mexico tries to regain control of Texas Closes slavery in and immigration to Mexico -Mexico feared a plot by the U.S. to acquire Texas Santa Anna went to Texas with 6,000 troops (rebellion) As Texas’ Anglo population surged, tensions grew with Mexico over cultural differences, as well as slavery. The overwhelmingly Protestant settlers spoke English rather than Spanish, and many of the settlers were sugar farmers who brought their slaves with them. Mexico, which had abolished slavery, insisted that the Texans free their slaves. Mexican president Santa Anna sealed Mexico’s borders and taxed trade heavily. Austin appealed to Santa Anna, now becoming a Mexican dictator, to allow the Texans self-government. In return, Santa Anna jailed Austin and declared Texas in revolution.

Texas -Battle of the Alamo, 1836 Texans defeated All 180 men killed -Texans eventually defeat Mexican Army and declare independence “Remember the Alamo!” -1836, Lone Star Republic Texas an independent nation Sam Houston serves as President of Texas

Battle of Tippecanoe, Seminole Wars Western Lands -Indian conflicts Battle of Tippecanoe, Seminole Wars Indian Removal Indian Removal Act, 1830 Trail of Tears Laramie Treaty, 1851 Starts the reservation system Sets boundaries for tribes Broken Treaties The U.S. government responded to settlers’ fears of attack by calling a conference near Laramie, Wyoming. The 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie provided Native Americans control of the Central Plains. In turn, these Native Americans promised not to attack settlers and to allow the construction of government roads and forts. The government pledged to honor the boundaries and to make payments to the Native Americans. The U.S. government repeatedly violated the terms of the treaty.

Northern route across central plans to the West, fur trade Western Lands -Oregon Territory -Oregon Trail Northern route across central plans to the West, fur trade Independence to Portland Missouri to Oregon Donner Party Group that became snow-bound; resorted to cannibalism -“54-40 or Fight” -James K. Polk Believer in Manifest Destiny Wanted to annex all of Oregon -election of 1844 In 1844, Democrat James K. Polk’s presidential platform called for annexation of the Oregon Territory. Reflecting support for Polk’s views, newspapers adopted the slogan “Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!,” referring to the northern limit of the disputed Oregon Territory. By the mid-1840s, however, the fur trade was in decline, and Britain’s interest in the territory waned. On the American side, Polk’s advisors deemed the land north of 49’ latitude unsuited for agriculture. The two countries peaceably agreed in 1846 to extend the mainland boundary along the 49th parallel, establishing the current U.S. boundary.

Oregon Trail

Mexican War -Texas finally annexed in 1845 -promise of newly elected Polk -border dispute arises with Mexico Is border along Rio Grande? -Polk sends troops -war breaks out after border skirmish Mexican troops shoot American border patrols General Zachary Taylor General Winfield Scott Invade and defeat Mexico

Mexican War -Mexico defeated California and New Mexico defeated; Mexico invaded -Mexican cessation of lands in the west 1848 Give up -California, Nevada, NM, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming Polk gets dream of Manifest Destiny For Mexico, the war in which it lost at least 25,000 lives and nearly half its land marked an ugly milestone in its relations with the United States. America’s victory came at the cost of about 13,000 lives. Of these, nearly 2,000 died in battle or from wounds and more than 11,000 perished from diseases, such as yellow fever. However, the war enlarged the U.S. territory by approximately one-third.

-Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo -Mexican cessation Spoils of War -Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo -Mexican cessation Americans paid Mexico $15 million, promised to protect Mexicans living in U.S. -Gadsden Purchase Strip of land purchased from Mexico for $10 million Wanted for railroad use -Zach Taylor elected President In the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Mexico agreed to the Rio Grande border for Texas and ceded NM and CA to the U.S. The U.S. agreed to pay $15 million for the Mexican cession, and the treaty guaranteed Mexicans living in these territories freedom of religion, protection of property, bilingual elections, and open borders. Fiver years later, President Franklin Pierce authorized his emissary James Gadsden to pay Mexico an additional $10 million for anther piece of land, which became known as the Gadsden Purchase.

Began dangerous mining towns Gold found in 1848 at Sutter’s Mill Spoils of War -California Gold Rush Began dangerous mining towns Gold found in 1848 at Sutter’s Mill 1849 Gold Rush Thousands of people from all around the world went to CA Settled the West “The blacksmith dropped his hammer, the carpenter his plane, the mason his trowel, the farmer his sickle, the baker his loaf, and the tapster his bottle. All were off for the mines…I have only a community of women left, and a gang of prisoners, with here and there a soldier who will give his captain the slip at first chance. I don’t blame the fellow a whit; seven dollars a month, while others are making two or three hundred a day!”

Manifest Destiny Realized