1. Manifest Destiny

2. What is It?
God’s will for the US to expand from the Atlantic to the Pacific

3. What did it do?
Encourages westward movement

4. When did it occur?
Started in the early 1800s and reaches its peak in the 1840s

5. What did it accomplish?
The US will acquire all land on the continent through wars, treaties, and purchases

6. Motivations and Challenges for Moving West
Why did people go? What obstacles did they face?

7. Challenges Hostile Native Americans Wild Animals Diseases
Rough weather
Rough terrain – rivers, hills, mountains, desert
Difficult travel in beginning – by foot, horse and buggy

8. Motivations/Opportunities
Adventure
Spread Religion
Faster Transportation
Railroads
Steamboats
Rivers
Trails/Roads
Oregon Trail
Santa Fe Trail
Manifest Destiny
Population growth – need more space
Cheap, fertile land to own and farm
Economic Opportunities
GOLD!
Logging
Farming

9. Land Acquired Louisiana Purchase Florida – Treaty Texas – added
Oregon – Treaty
Southern Border – war with Mexico and a purchase

10. Review Questions 1. What does Manifest Destiny mean?
2. When did Manifest Destiny occur?
3. What did Manifest Destiny accomplish?
4. What were 4 challenges people faced as they moved westward?
5. What were 4 motivations/opportunities people had for moving westward?
6. What were two pieces of land the US acquired during this time?