1. Do Now
Take a close look at the picture. Write down everything you notice, even the tiny details. Then determine what you think this painting was trying to symbolize.

2. Westward Expansion

3. Problem of Expansion
Population in eastern part of the **United States is growing
**Need for more land and resources
**United States attempts multiple solutions

4. Manifest Destiny **United States turns to expand west as a solution
Idea of **Manifest Destiny – it was the US’s God given right to expand west into Mexican and Native American land
**Manifest Destiny will be used as a justification for all westward expansion
United States encounters multiple problems as it seeks to expand territory

5. Louisiana Purchase
**France owned territory west of early US & hoped to build an American empire
Threatened US empire and peace
France offered that territory to the US - they had too many problems with colonies overseas
US did not buy land immediately – **Jefferson feared purchase of such a large territory was unconstitutional
Had to consider a constitutional amendment that allowed the president the power to make such a purchase
**US eventually purchased the territory in 1803, expanding US to western land

6. Mexican American War Texas land was a part of Mexico
**Americans settled Texas land alongside Mexicans
Differences created tension
language – American’s didn’t speak Spanish
American’s from the South brought their slaves to Texas
**American’s in Texas negotiated with the US to make Texas land a part of the US
**President Polk wanted Texas –felt it was an opportunity to expand the US as it would bring in new territory – California and New Mexico

7. Mexican American War cont.
**Mexico becomes angry with negotiations over Texas
Mexico ceased diplomatic relations with the U.S.
**Polk still tried to negotiate a boundary with Mexico
**Mexico refused
**Polk sent troops into Mexico – war broke out for a year
Mexico and US sign **Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo – a border between US and Mexico was created
US got New Mexico, California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado and Wyoming
US empire grew

8. Removal of Natives
Expanding west meant Expanding into Native American Territory
Congress passed the **Indian Removal Act – forced Native Americans to move further west so US can settle the land
Some Natives resist – **Cherokee Nation took it to Supreme Court
**Supreme court ruled in favor of the Cherokee saying the federal gov’t couldn’t invade Cherokee lands
**President Jackson refused to listen
**Trail of Tears - US troops rounded up the Cherokee people and took them on a 800 mile march west on foot

9. Removal of Natives Cont.
**Indian Schools – schools for American Indians
**Reservation System – American Indians live in clearly defined zones
**gov’t promised food, goods, money, protection
**Dawes Act- gov’t divides tribal land & hands out to individual American Indians who gained citizenship
Native Americans only 2% of population today
Native American poverty rate is 22%

10. Homestead Act
**Government program that gave land (for free) to people willing to settle west
**Idea was to get people to move, therefore expanding the nation
**Need for transportation = Railroad development
Access to resources
Allows for growth of towns and cities