John Quincy Adams, sixth president of the United States ( ), wrote in 1811: "The whole continent appears to be destined... to be peopled by one nation. The acquisition of a definite line of boundary to the [Pacific] forms a great epoch in our history."
What do you think Manifest Destiny means? What is your opinion on the quote you just read? VIDEO SEGMENT Note two things you learned from the video:
California and the Southwest In the 1840’s, the area Mexico ruled what was known as the New Mexico Territory. This included present-day California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Colorado. The United States was not allowed to settle there until Mexico became independent from Spain in 1821.
Santa Fe Trail It ran from Missouri in the east to New Mexico in the west. It was a popular route for Americans to travel to the Southwest territories. Missouri merchants were the first travelers along the route. William Bucknell was the first American pioneers to go across the trail.
Many missions were set up in California; they tried to convert Native Americans to Christianity. The United States eagerly wanted further expansion.
Manifest Destiny Manifest – clear or obvious Destiny – something that is sure to happen Manifest Destiny – the belief of Americans that they had a right to control the land out to the Pacific Americans believed we had the right and duty to spread our culture across the continent. We felt expansion would open new opportunities for the United States economy. It justified taking the land because we felt we were superior to the Native Americans and Mexicans.
Identify the term in each of the following sets that does not belong…explain how the other three are related. California/valley/ocean/annex Annex San Diego/Arizona/mission/Father Junipero Serra Arizona Spanish/New Mexico/coyotes/Santa Fe coyotes Missions/merchant/Santa Fe/Trail/William Becknell missions James K. Polk/national pride/expansion/Henry Clay Henry Clay
Chapter 13, Section 3 Guided Reading and Review Main Idea A: New Mexico Territory was home to three cultures. 1.Native Americans lived by farming or hunting. 2.Spain claimed the region and established Santa Fe as its capital. 3.Americans settled there after Mexico became independent. Main Idea B: Settlements in California included missions and ranches. 4.Spanish missionaries built the first European settlements in California. 5.Native Americans herded and farmed for the missionaries. 6.Mexico gave away mission lands to the wealthy for cattle ranches. 7.Native and Mexican ranch workers developed the vaqueros culture.
Main Idea C: Many Americans supported the idea of western expansion. 8.Some officials wanted to control California’s ports of San Francisco and San Diego. 9.Americans believed in Manifest Destiny. 10.Americans showed support for expansion by electing James Polk president. 11. New Mexico Territory Huge region in the southwest, Americans settled there after Mexico gained independence. 12. Santa Fe Trail Route from Missouri to Santa Fe, NM, taken by many who went west 13. Manifest Destiny Belief that the United States had a right to control all the land to the Pacific Ocean