1. Manifest Destiny

2. Manifest Destiny Phrase was coined by a journalist, John O’ Sullivan
American Nationalism- belief that America was destined, by God, to expand its’ boundaries from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific and beyond

3. Manifest Destiny Varied Opinions about this topic
1. Expand over all of North American and Caribbean Islands
2. America should force to acquire the land
3. Americans should do nothing
4. Henry Clay was concerned about the slavery/territory issues

4. Manifest Destiny Oregon –
American interest grew in the area in the 1820’s-1830’s
By 1840’s new settlements by Americans grew along the Pacific coast
American settlers wanted to be part of the union

5. Manifest Destiny Texas History- Americans living in Mexican territory
By 1835, 30,000 Americans living in Texas
Tensions mounted with Mexico
Texans fight war over ‘independence’ from Mexico
1836- Texans defeat the Mexican Army

6. Manifest Destiny
James Polk- As President he believed in Manifest Destiny and wanted to be the president that established those boundaries for the U. S.
1845- Texas became a state
1846- Established U. S. border at the 49th latitude line in the Oregon Territory

7. Manifest Destiny Boundary dispute with Mexico leads to war
U. S. Wanted border to be the Rio Grande
Mexico wanted border at the Nueces River

10. Manifest Destiny
Mexican War President Polk manipulates the situation by:
1. sending the U. S. army to the Rio Grande,
2. offering to purchase the disputed land through diplomacy, up to $40 million sends John Slidell
3.asking for a declaration of war with Congress.

11. Manifest Destiny
California John Fremont sent out to defend the Americans living California against the Mexican government that controlled that area. Goes to Sutter’s Fort, outside Sacramento
Polk goes to Cuba and seeks help from exiled dictator , Santa Anna- agrees for $500,000 in gold.

12. Manifest Destiny Polk sends Stephan Kearny into New Mexico
In August 1846, Kearny's force of about 1,600 soldiers occupied Santa Fe and organized a new civil government for New Mexico, promising a democratic administration

13. Manifest Destiny
March 1846 – General Taylor’s troops made camp at the Rio Grande in disputed territory
April 1846 – Mexican commander insisted U.S. troops must leave area and Taylor refused to move
Mexican forces crossed the Rio Grande and attacked group of 63 U.S. soldiers
11 Americans killed

14. Manifest Destiny
Many members of the Whig Party thought the conflict was unjustified
Northern abolitionists feared any territory gained in the war might be organized into slave states
Illinois Congressman Abraham Lincoln wrote the “Spot Resolutions” in 1848– asking Polk to show the spot where American blood had been shed on American soil

15. Manifest Destiny Forced on Santa Anna and Mexico
Southern boundary of Texas set at the Rio Grande
U.S. gained:
Present-day states of California, Nevada, and Utah
Most of Arizona and New Mexico
Parts of Colorado and Wyoming
U.S. agreed to pay $15 million to Mexico and pay debts of Mexico to U.S. citizens

16. Manifest Destiny
The California gold rush began when gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill
As the news of discovery
spread, some 300,000
people came to California
from the rest of the
United States and abroad

17. Manifest Destiny These early gold seekers called “49ers”
traveled to California by
sailing ships and
covered wagons across
the continent.

18. Manifest Destiny
During the California Gold Rush, Fremont became a millionaire when gold was discovered on his land.
General John C. Fremont