1. Writing and Critical Thinking Exercise
Manifest Destiny
History Through Art

2. Objectives Analyze a famous painting by American artist John Gast
“American Progress” (1873)
Study the upcoming painting carefully and see what clues the artist gives regarding America’s Westward expansion
Answer the questions in your study guide

3. What was “Manifest Destiny”?
Belief that it was America’s “God-given” right to expand from coast to coast
Term created by John O’Sullivan
Expansion to the Pacific
Seen as obvious and inevitable
Spread of democracy and European-American lifestyle; based in white racial superiority
Exterminate/convert Native Americans
Tame the Western landscape

4. WHAT TIME PERIOD IS IT ASSOCIATED WITH?
1840S TO 1850S
ALTHOUGH IT HAS ROOTS IN THE LA PURCHASE AND INDIAN REMOVAL ACT

5. WHAT ARE THE KEY ASSOCIATIONS?
OREGON TERRITORY
TEXAS INDEPENDENCE
MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR

6. Oregon At one time, four countries claimed Oregon:
Spain
Britain
Russia US
The boundary was not settled between US and Great Britain
Polk campaigned on “54°40’ or Fight”
Eventually, the two sides settle on the 49th parallel

7. Texas In 1836, Texas declared independence from Mexico
I flip-flopped on the annexation of Texas
I advocated the annexation of Texas…
In 1836, Texas declared independence from Mexico
1844 presidential campaign focused on the issue of Texas
In 1845, Texas is annexed via a joint resolution
Southerners favored the admission as a way to expand slavery
The boundary was not settled by both US and Mexico
Helps lead to the…….

8. Mexican-American War Causes: Effects:
Texas boundary
“American blood on American soil”
Effects:
US gains Mexican Cession
Land increases by 1/3
US now expands from Atlantic to the Pacific
Debate over slavery would be #1 topic until the Civil War
Wilmot Proviso – wanted to keep slavery out of Mexican Cession
Passed House, not Senate

9. Impacts of Manifest Destiny
Native Americans:
They continually lost land and were pushed further and further west
Eventually, they were forced on reservations
Slavery:
Manifest destiny thrust the issue of slavery into the national spotlight
Debate over whether new land should be slave or free
Politics
Wilmot Proviso
Republican Party:
One of the platforms was to keep slavery from expanding

11. What do you think the woman in the picture represents?
What is she doing?

12. Look familiar?

13. 2. What are these people doing, and why do you think they are in the picture?

14. What does this part of the picture show?
What is its significance?

15. Who else is being forced Westward?
What is happening here?

16. 5. Why do you think the bear was included in this part of the picture?

18. 6. Can you tell what is going on in this part of the picture?

19. 7. Why do you think the artist painted this picture
7. Why do you think the artist painted this picture? What is the larger message he was trying to convey about “Manifest Destiny”?

20. STANDING ROCK

21. IN PAIRS ANSWERS EACH QUESTION?
1. EXPLAIN THE CONCEPT OF MANIFEST DESTINY IN YOUR OWN WORDS
2. WHAT WERE SOME OF THE CAUSES OF MANIFEST DESTINY?
3. WHAT WERE THE BENEFITS/DRAWBACKS OF MANIFEST DESTINY?
4. HOW DOES WHITE RACIAL SUPERIORITY FACTOR INTO THE IDEA OF MANIFEST DESTINY?
5. DO YOU BELIEVE THE CONCEPT OF MANIFEST DESTINY IS STILL IN USE TODAY? EXPLAIN

22. assignment Go to Period 5 Westward Expansion
Download Manifest Destiny Quotes
There are four quotes, assign one quote per person.
Read and identify the argument in the quote in relation to Manifest Destiny.

23. Characteristics of the Term (At least 5)
Definition
Characteristics of the Term (At least 5)
Manifest Destiny
Examples
Squatters:
Oregon:
California:
Treaty of Ft. Laramie:
Utah:
Non-Examples: (5 Characteristics that are the opposite of the term)

24. The Readings on the topic
Version I John L. O’ Sullivan 1839
list points of interest on the left of Venn Diagram
Read Version II John L. O’ Sullivan from the Democratic Review where the term Manifest Destiny is coined. List points of interest on the right diagram.
Comparison items go in the middle.
Are there common threads? Is the document more specific? Why? Dates are key!