WESTWARD EXPANSION

TRAILS WEST WHEN THE U.S. SIGNED THE PEACE TREATY WITH GREAT BRITAIN IN 1783, ITS BORDERS WERE THE: MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO THE WEST CANANADA TO THE NORTH FLORIDA TO THE SOUTH

NORTHWEST ORDINANCE IN 1787 THE NORTHWEST ORDINACE ESTABLISHED PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE ADMISSION OF NEW STATES. THE NEW REPUBLIC RAPIDLY EXPANDED ITS TERRITORY ACROSS THE C ONTINENT.

LOUISIANA PURCHASE, , THE U.S. PURCHASES LAND FROM FRANCE WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. THIS DOUBLED THE SIZE OF THE U.S. AND GAVE IT CONTROL OF THE KEY PORT OF NEW ORLEANS, WHERE THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER EMPTIES INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO.

THE PURCHASE OF FLORIDA, 1819 THE U.S NEGOTIATED THE PURCHASE OF FLORIDA FROM SPAIN IN 1819 FOR $ 5 MILLION

“MANIFEST DESTINY” MANY AMERICANS BELIEVED THAT IT WAS AMERICA’S “MANIFEST DESTINY,” OR FATE, TO EXTEND ITS BORDERS OF THE NATION TO THE SHORES OF THE PACIFIC. THIS BELIEF WAS IN KEEPING WITH THE BELIEF THAT AMERICANS WERE A “CHOSEN PEOPLE” WITH A DIVINE MISSION TO SPREAD DEMOCRACY, CHRISTAINITY AND WESTERN CULTURE. OCCUPYING THE ENTIRE STRETCH OF NORTH AMERICA FROM THE ATLANTIC TO THE PACIFIC WOULD ALSO STRENGTHEN THE NATION’S SECURITY AND PROVIDE ECOMONIC OPPORTUNITIES.

SIGNING OF THE OREGON TREATY IN 1846 ACHIEVED THE U.S. GOAL OF HAVING ACCESS TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL ROOTS OF “MANIFEST DESTINY”

ECONOMIC: NEW LAND FOR FARMERS NEW RESOURCES AND RAW MATERIAL NEW TRADE ROUTES AND MARKETS (SANTA FE TRAIL) NEW OPPORTUNTIES TO START A NEW BUSINESS LOW PRICES FOR LAND FOLLOWING FINANCIAL PANICS OF 1819 AND 1837 LAND OWNERSHIP MEANS WEALTH

POLITICAL EXPAND THE NATION’S BORDERS/TERRITORY TO PROVIDE SECURITY DESIRE TO EXPAND DEMOCRACY

SOCIAL REFUGE FOR PERSECUTED GROUPS (MORMONS) ROMANTIC NOTIONS OF LIFE IN THE WEST AMERICAN INDIVIDUALISM WAS PERSONIFIED IN THE PIONEERS POPULATION PRESSURES IN THE EASTERN U.S.

During the early 1800s, many Americans moved west of the Rocky Mountains to settle and trade. Some of the first Americans in the West were mountain men: fur traders and trappers. --- ADVENTURER OF AMERICAN WEST Many settlers traveled west over the Oregon Trail.

Mountain Men Fur traders and trappers, who were some of the first Americans to explore the West John Jacob Astor created one of the largest fur businesses, the American Fur Company. Astor founded Astoria, one of the first settlements in Oregon Country. JEDEDIAH SMITH AND JIM BECKWOURTH -- --BECAME FAMOUS, RUGGED LONERS.

THOUSANDS OF PIONEERS USED SOUTH PASS (IN PRESENT DAY WYOMING), THE WIDE VALLEY THROUGH THE ROCKIE MOUNTAINS. SOUTH PASS WAS LOW, WIDE, AND STEEP WHICH ALLOWED WAGON TRAILS TO RUN THROUGH IT.

LAND SPECULATORS: PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT HUGE AREAS OF LAND. TO SPECULATE MEANS TO BUY SOMETHING IN HOPES IT WILL INCREASE IN VALUE.

OREGON TERRITORY , GREAT BRITAIN AND THE U.S. HAD TO AGREED TO JOINT CONTROL OF THE OREGON TERRITORY. IN THE 1840’s, LARGE NUMBERS OF PIONEERS BEGAN MOVING ALONG THE OREGON TRAIL, WHICH RAN BETWEEN INDEPENDENCE MISSOURI, TO THE OREGON TERRITORY.

Let’s analyze the patterns of migration to the west.

Oregon Trail Settlers were lured by rich resources and the mild climate. The trail was 2,000 miles, beginning in Iowa or Missouri and ending in Oregon or California. Hard journey because of food shortages, bad weather, and mountains and rivers that were difficult to cross.

Oregon Trail It was a two thousand mile overland trail that took many immigrants, pioneers, explorers, missionaries, and fur traders to the northwest and other places across the country during the westward expansion.

MISSIONARIES, MARCUS AND NARCISSA WHITMAN, WERE THE FIRST TO CROSS THE CONTINENT TO OREGON IN THEY CAME TO BUILD MISSIONS, GIVE MEDICAL TREATMENTS, AND SPREAD CHRISTAINITY. 1843, NEARLY 1,000 PEOPLE TRAVELED FROM MISSOURI TO OREGON. HOWEVER, THE OREGON FEVER HAD BROKEN OUT AND WAS RAGING.

THE SAGER FAMILY: 1844, THE SAGER FAMILY, HENRY SAGER, HIS WIFE, AND SIX CHILDREN AND ONE ON THE WAY LEFT FOR OREGON. THE TRAIL WAS FULL OF HARDSHIPS. ACCIDENTS AND DEATH PLAGUED THE PIONEERS.

Santa Fe Trail WILLIAM BECKNELL OPENED THE SANTA FE TRAIL. The route led from Independence, Missouri, to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Was originally a Native American trading route Traders used the route to trade American goods for Mexican goods; traders made high profits. Difficult journey due to hot desert and rough mountains. PRAIRIE SCHOONERS, COVERED WAGONS, WERE USED TO CARRY TRADE GOODS. THE BILLOWING WHITE CANVAS TOPS MADE THEM LOOK LIKE SCHOONERS, OR SAILING SHIPS.

The Mormons traveled west in search of religious freedom. Joseph Smith founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in western New York in Their book of religious teachings is called the Book of Mormon. Church members were persecuted because of beliefs, including polygamy (one man married to several women). Joseph Smith was murdered by a mob in Brigham Young became the new head of the church and moved the group to Utah. Thousands of Mormons took the Mormon Trail to Utah. By 1860, there were about 40,000 Mormons in Utah.