1. American Expansion

2. "It is America's right to stretch from sea to shining sea
"It is America's right to stretch from sea to shining sea. Not only do we have a responsibility to our citizens to gain valuable natural resources we also have a responsibility to civilize this beautiful land."
Read and discuss this quote with students as a group. Do they agree?

3. "America has no right to take the lands west of the Louisiana Territory. Those lands are rightfully owned by Mexico and to enter into conflict with the Mexicans just to expand and take that land would violate the principles of this great nation."
Read and discuss. Do the students agree or disagree?

4. Northwest Territory Acquired after the French & Indian War
In 1783, Britain gave up all lands east of the Mississippi.
This was part of the Treaty of Paris.
Print out the rest of the slides and use them as placards. In groups, students will rotate through the placards and fill out the information in their graphic organizer.

5. Louisiana Purchase Purchased from France in 1803
Gained all territory from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains
Doubled the size of the United States

6. Purchase of Florida
Purchased from Spain in 1819
Cost = $5 million

7. Manifest Destiny
America’s destiny to extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean
Americans were “chosen” to spread Christianity and democracy
Make our country stronger and richer

8. Manifest Destiny Political
Spread democracy: people act as the government
Economic
Many resources in western territory
Farm land in Texas and gold in California
Religious
Spread Christianity
Social
God-given right to occupy the entire continent
Intellectual
Industrial Revolution inventions and better education system
Area (Geographic ):
Control the land from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean

9. Transcontinental Railroad

10. Oregon Territory
In 1818, Great Britain and the United States both controlled the Oregon Territory
Thousands of pioneers traveled along the Oregon Trail in the 1840’s
President James K. Polk compromised with Britain and split the territory of Oregon with Canada

11. The Mormons in Utah
The Mormons were found in upstate New York by Joseph Smith 1830 during the “Second Great Awakening”
Driven out of Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois because of their beliefs in polygamy
Brigham Young led the westward to the Great Salt Lake in Utah in 1847
In 1877, 125,000 Mormons lived in Utah

12. The Annexation of Texas
A group of Americans reached an agreement with the Mexican government
Anglo-American settlers increased
Mexico banned Americans from settling Texas
Disputes between American settlers and Mexican government lead to a war

13. The Annexation of Texas
Texas Wins Independence in 1836
James K. Polk promised to annex Texas if elected president
Pros – allow for more westward expansion and good land for cotton
Cons – Texas would be a slave state and could lead to a war with Mexico

14. U.S.-Mexican War ( )

15. U.S.-Mexican War (1846-1848) Causes:
A dispute about the southern border of Texas; Rio Grande or Nueces?
President Polk sent troops to the disputed area
Results:
U.S. troops defeated Mexico and forced them to give up California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and parts of Colorado and New Mexico
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, US paid $15 million for these areas known as the Mexican Cession

16. Gadsden Purchase (1853)

17. Gadsden Purchase (1853)
The US purchased a small piece of land for $10 million from Mexico
Why was this small area so valuable?
Linked the south with the Pacific Coast via the railroad

18. California Gold Rush 1848; gold was discovered in California
Word spread and thousands of 49ers arrived in California the following year
By 1850, San Francisco had grown to a population of 100,000

19. Westward Expansion Challenges
More Land = More Problems
Slavery? Permit or Prohibit
Congressional Representation? Slave States = Free States