1. Jump Start Read the “Manifest Destiny” handout
Judge what it says about how Americans thought about themselves.

2. Our ‘God Given Right’ to settle this land
Manifest Destiny
Our ‘God Given Right’
to settle this land

3. Manifest Destiny Timeline
Oregon Trail
Missouri “The Liberator” & Texas Texas Becomes Ft. Laramie
Compromise Founded Independence th State Treaty

4. EXPANDING the US O-185O This map shows the dramatic expansion of the territorial boundaries of the United States after the Louisiana Purchase. Much of this acquisition occurred in the 1840s. What events contributed to the annexation of new land to the States in those years?

5. Let’s discuss how this painting “American Progress” by John Gast, illustrates what John L. O’Sullivan wrote about, in the editorial on Manifest Destiny?

6. An Allegorical Painting by John Gast 1872
Manifest Destiny
An Allegorical Painting by John Gast 1872

7. America’s Evolving Ideology Expressed as “Manifest Destiny” Drives the Population West

8. Land Attracts Settlers Why?
Land was still a great measure of wealth
Farmers still wanted their own
Speculators gambled on price increases
Railroad companies needed it to expand
Pacific trade was becoming a reality, so we
had to find western harbors to trade with China.

9. Natives Welcome and Resist
Native Americans helped many settlers - few tribes attacked.
Acted as guides and white men learned the routes
As early as the 1820s and 1830s two major Trails West evolved:
Oregon Trail – Northwest to Portland (Wilmette Valley)
Santa Fe Trail – Southwest thru Santa Fe, NM
Fort Laramie Treaty – agreement w/Natives about land use
- Whites could travel thru, build forts but natives had control of plains
- Broke treaty often – started Indian Wars after 1851.

10. Oregon Trail Map, 1843

13. Wagon Trains to Santa Fe
Heavily traveled between 1821 and 1848 in Spring
Traders traveled in large groups of 100 to defend vs. Natives
‘Circled the wagons’ at night for defense & to corral horses

14. Oregon Trail Re-enactment, 1995

15. Natives Americans Forced Out
Sauk – Black Hawk (chief) War – Ill & WI
Cheyenne, Pawnee, Arapahoe,
Ute, Nez Perce – all right in the
paths of the major routes – wars
lasted for 50 years.
Sioux (Sitting Bull) and Apache
(Geronimo) among last tribes to resist
Many worked their way south
toward Texas (Mexico)

16. Mexico Attracts Americans
Independent since 1821 – cannot defend all its land.
Mexico sought trade opportunities with the US and offered land grants to ‘Empresarios’ – Stephen Austin.
Believed it would help shield them from Natives and
increase trade because more Americans lived there.
Soon more Americans than Mexicans lived in Texas.

17. Tensions with Mexico English vs. Spanish language & culture
Slavery – Mexico abolished it in 1829 – insisted that Americans free their slaves too.
Mexico prohibits more immigration in 1830
Taxes (tariffs) imposed on American goods in Mexico
Austin arrested asking for more self – gov’t
No Deal - Texans begin to rebel – Texas Revolution

18. Santa Ana Attacks Texas
Santa Ana moves to Texas to try to stop the rebellions as Texas declares independence
Colonel Travis, Davey Crockett,
Jim Bowie & 187 defenders
killed at the Alamo
after holding out for 12
days vs. Santa Ana & his
4000 man Mexican Army.

19. The Alamo Then & Now

20. Santa Ana Stopped Sam Houston & Rebel Army
captures Santa Ana & force him
to recognize Republic of Texas.
But he later reneges and tries to
get it back for Mexico.
Texas invites the US to “annex” it.

21. President Polk’s Mission
Sectionalism (slavery vs. abolition) prevented Texas’ admission to the US as a state or territory
President James K. Polk, a slaveholder won in 1844, favored western expansion and wanted Texas ASAP ...as well as the rest of the current US!
December, 1845 Texas became the 28th state
Mexico goes nuts!