1. The Tale(s) of American Expansionism
Manifest Destiny
The Tale(s) of American Expansionism

2. What is MANIFEST DESTINY?

4. Louisiana Purchase 1803 Purchased from France (Napoleon)
15 Million Dollars
Purpose: Acquisition of port of New Orleans, removal of European power from the west

7. Florida Purchased from Spain (with help from Andrew Jackson’s raids)
5 million dollars
Purpose: removal of Spain from North American continent
President at the time: MOnroe

8. Election of 1844 James K. Polk- First Dark Horse
“Young Hickory” supported annexation, “reoccupation of Oregon”, acquisition of California
Slogan: or Fight!
Calhoun got the pro-slavery southern democratic nod, Martin Van-Buren opposed annexation of texas
The Whig: Clay tried to play both sides: in the north he presented himself as anti-expansion, in the south as pro-annexation
Voters in New York abandoned the Whig candidate and voted for the new anti-slavery Liberty Party. This cost Clay New York, and thus the election

9. Oregon Acquired via treaty with Britain
Cost: We split our claims with Britain
Purpose: Removal of British from Northwest, prevention of Russian expansion
Why half of Oregon but all of Mexico?? Became the issue for northerners

10. The Oregon Trail was one of the most famous trails ever
The Oregon Trail was one of the most famous trails ever. It was a series of trails that were used by the first explorers and fur traders.  It was the longest overland trail in North America. In the 1840s America and England agreed that Oregon would belong to the first country to settle the most people in that area.  The United States encouraged people to move to Oregon by offering land for homesteading.  In 1843 the "Great Migration" to Oregon began.  These pioneers who traveled to the area used the Oregon Trail.   The trail started in Independence, Missouri and went past Chimney Rock, Nebraska.  From there it crossed the southwest tip of Wyoming and into the southern part of Idaho.  The trail ended up in the northwest corner of Oregon.  It took them approximately six months to travel the 2000 miles from Independence, Missouri to their final destination in the Oregon territory.

11. Photograph taken in 1913 of prospectors in Oregon

12. The Texas Issue Texas had achieved independence in 1836
America annexed it in 1845
Disputed boundary: Nueces or Rio Grande?

13. The Alamo painted in 1835, around the time of the battle

15. Mexican War: Causes American attempts to purchase California failed
Diplomatic attempts to resolve Texas boundary failed (hmmm….)
General Zachary Taylor was sent into the disputed area, and “American blood was shed on American soil” by the Mexicans
Spotty Lincoln resolutions: Abraham Lincoln
The war was extremely controversial, and many opposed it as a gain for slavery

17. Mexican War: Main Events
Kearny captures Santa Fe and Southern California
John C. Fremont captured control of Northern California and proclaimed the Bear Flag Republic
Taylor crossed into Mexico and captured Buena Vista
Winfield Scott landed at Vera Cruz, moved in and captured Mexico City
The independent Republic of California… hmmm is there a similarity to Texas here??

18. Mexican War: Results
Mexico would recognize the Rio Grande as the border
Mexican Cession
Debate: All of Mexico?? None of Mexico??
Wilmot Proviso
In the debate over the treaty, southern Dems felt they didn’t get enough territory, northern Whigs felt this was an immoral effort to spread slavery
The Wilmot Priviso twice passed the House, but was stopped in the Senate. It was proposed in 1846 (the start of the war) and said that we should agree to prohibit slavery from spreading into any territory gained from Mexico

19. Zach Taylor on a pile of skulls satirizing

20. Mexican Cession Through a treaty with Mexico Paid 15 million to Mexico
Purpose: Obtaining California

21. Gadsden Purchase Obtained through a treaty with Mexico
Cost $10 Million
Purpose: Obtaining a better route for a possible transcontinental railroad

22. Ostend Manifesto
Plan by pro-slavery American diplomats to seize Cuba if Spain would not sell
They were denounced by both parties
This cartoon shows American diplomat James Buchanan, second from right, being held up by robbers who quote the Ostend Manifesto as justification for taking his belongings. The manifesto was a dispatch, signed by Buchanan and other United States diplomats, declaring that the U.S. had the right to take Cuba from Spain by force if Spain refused to sell it. The manifesto was leaked to the press and used by the Republican Party as a campaign weapon against Buchanan’s Democratic Party. Buchanan later became the 15th president of the United States.
Polk offered 100 million for Cuba, but they refused
Some southerners had led small expeditions into Cuba, but failed and were killed by the Spanish
Pierce was forced to drop the scheme when anti-slavery congressmen raised an outcry

23. William Walker’s Nicaragua
Became involved in a revolution in Nicaragua and eventually became president
Set up a pro-slavery state there
Eventually overthrown
He took over Nicaragua in 1855 with a small band of southerners, US granted diplomatic recognition
Several Central American countries invaded and defeated him, he was shot in 1860
Clayton Bulwer was signed in 1850: neither Britain or the US would build a canal in Latin America without the other’s consent

25. Impact of Western Expansion
Reignites the slavery issue and sectional rivalry
Frontier provides a “safety valve”
Precedent of strained relations between the U.S. and Latin America
Systematic attack and removal of Indians continued

26. Fort Laramie Nebraska