1. Manifest Destiny
The term "manifest destiny" was first used by journalist John O'Sullivan in the New York Democratic Review in O'Sullivan wrote in favor of the U.S. annexing Texas.
Opponents to annexation, he argued, were trying to stop "the fulfillment of our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions"
“Manifest Destiny” was the popular 19th-century notion that the United States would—and should—inevitably expand westward all the way to the Pacific Ocean. “Manifest” means obvious, and its use here implied that there was no question such expansion should occur. “Destiny” indicated that many Americans believed westward expansion was inevitable—and right. Those of a more religious character saw this destiny as ordained by God; however, the less pious also believed in Manifest Destiny, seeing it as a sign of the “greatness” of the American people.
The concept of Manifest Destiny included not only geographic expansion but also the spread of American-style democracy and the European-American belief system across the continent. In order for this to happen, European-Americans would have to subdue and either exterminate Native American populations or convert them to the European-American way of life. The course of Manifest Destiny would also require the “taming” of the Western landscape so that settlers could grow crops and continue the lifestyles they had become accustomed to “back East.”

2. “American Progress” John Gast, 1873
Give students approximately one minute to view the painting, then proceed to the following slides.
“American Progress” John Gast, 1873

3. Transportation: Canals
The Erie Canal:
Hudson River to Buffalo, NY
Connected the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean
Locks
In addition to the development of trails and roads heading west, the first half of the 19th century saw the expansion of water transportation routes, making it easier for people to trade between regions and facilitating the development of towns and cities to the west. The Erie Canal, for example, allowed trade and transportation between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes, connecting the Hudson River in eastern New York to Buffalo on the shores of Lake Erie in far western New York. Other canals serve similar functions in the northeastern United States.
The canals depended on efficient engineering technologies. For example, engineers constructed lift locks (also called boat lifts) to raise or lower boats from one elevation to another. Locks allowed canals to be built in hilly areas, enabling products to be transported over greater territory.
The Erie Canal 3

4. Transportation: Railroads
Made canals less important
Major wave of construction from 1830s through 1860s
Transcontinental railroad completed in 1869
Government support was important for success of the canals and railroads
The development of the railroads beginning in the 1820s made the canals less important while continuing the trend toward expansion into the western hinterlands. From 1830, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad carried passengers and goods from Baltimore to the Ohio River. Many other railroads were constructed between 1830s and 1860s, culminating in the transcontinental railroad connecting the Atlantic to the Pacific in 1869.
These developments in transportation depended on government support. Some politicians, such as Henry Clay of Kentucky, advocated strong federal support for transportation, including railroads and canals. This advocacy made Clay and like-minded politicians popular in Ohio and other western areas in the early to mid-19th century.
An early railroad engine from the 1830s 4

5. The Telegraph “WHAT HATH GOD WROUGHT”
Morse sends first telegraph on May 24, 1844 from Washington D.C. to Baltimore
Morse's early system produced a paper copy with raised dots and dashes, which were translated later by an operator
23,000 miles of telegraph wire by 1854 (p: 277)

6. Agricultural Revolution
Midwest farming production growth
Cyrus McCormick and the horse drawn grain reaper
John Deere and the steel plow; farmers now had a surplus of goods to sell
Connection to Eastern markets
Canals, turnpikes, rail
As agricultural output grows, manufacturing grows, infrastructure expands and the population increases

7. Cumberland Road Linked Cumberland, MD to Vandalia, Ill
Under construction from

8. The Market Revolution:
1793 Eli Whitney invents the cotton gin
1797 Whitney invents interchangeable parts for firearms
1807 Robert Fulton invents the steamboat
1823 Lowell Mills opens in Massachusetts
1825 Erie Canal is completed
1828 First U.S. railroad appears
1834 Cyrus McCormick invents the mechanical mower-reaper
1835* Samuel F. B. Morse invents the telegraph
1837 Cumberland road (National Road) is completed
1838 John Deere invents the steel plow

9. Effect of the Market Revolution
Political consequences: reinforced east-west ties at the expense of north-south relationships
The canal systems (ex: Erie) and railroads encouraged Midwesterners to do business with the northeast as opposed to the south
Exacerbates sectional tensions building to the Civil War; the sectional gap grows

10. Mexico Gained independence from Spain in 1821
Encouraged Americans to settle the
under-populated territory of Texas
Low Tejano population
Tejano (Mexican and Spanish ancestry)
Native American threat: Comanche and Apache
Land offered at 10 cents/acre ($1.25 in U.S.)

11. Watch the first 6:30 minutes of the crash course on YouTube.

12. Mexico

13. Americans Welcome
Moses Austin and other empresarios organized the settlement
“G.T.T.” – Gone to Texas
Moses’ son, Stephen Austin helped lead roughly 300 families to Texas
Land grants
Mexican government’s guidelines:
1) Adopt Roman Catholicism
2) Obey Mexican law (no slaves)

14. Americans Unwelcome
Mexico begins to feel threatened by the surge of American settlement in Texas and their blatant refusal to follow the guidelines
In 1830 new laws are instituted:
1) No more Americans can immigrate to Mexico
2) Re-emphasize constitutional ban on slavery
3) Stephen Austin is arrested and jailed*

15. General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
Santa Anna becomes president
Assumes dictatorial powers
Americans in Texas rebel
Texas Revolution begins (1833)

17. The Alamo Geography Battle Key Figures Outcome San Antonio, TX
First the Texans take control of the mission, then Santa Anna’s 4,000 man army marches into Texas
Key Figures
Santa Anna
Davey Crocket
James Bowie
Colonel William B. Travis
Outcome
All 187 Texans are killed (women & children spared)
“Remember the Alamo” will serve as the Texas battle cry

18. Texas Revolution
General Sam Houston will lead Texas to victory at the Battle of San Jacinto
Santa Anna is captured and forced to sign the Treaty of Velasco, formally recognizing Texas’ independence from Mexico
Sept – Sam Houston became the first, last and only President of Texas – The Lone Star Republic

19. Territorial expansion of the United States- 54. 40’ or Fight!
Texas (War with Mexico), Oregon

20. Texas Annexation
1838 – Houston requests annexation Presidents Van Buren, Harrison and Tyler were reluctant to incite a sectional conflict over slavery
President Polk campaigns as an expansionist and welcomes Texas as the 28th state in 1845
Mexico responds to annexation by recalling its ambassador from Washington D.C.

21. The Mexican - American war
Origins
War
Mexican Cession
California

22. Causes
John Slidell is dispatched to Mexico to peacefully acquire CA and NM
He is denied access to Mexican officials
Disputed Zone: Rio Grande v. Nueces River
Polk dispatches U.S. troops led by General Zachary Taylor to the Disputed Zone
Polk: “American blood has been shed on American soil”

23. Kearney’s March (1846)
800 miles, KA-NM
Takes New Mexico without a shot
Mexico defeated at Veracruz (3/1847)
Amphibious landing
General Scott marches to Mexico City (9/1847)
Wilmot Proviso
PA Congressman proposes banning slavery in territories acquired from Mexico
Passes the House but Calhoun kills it in the Senate
“Property rights”

24. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)
Settled the boundary between Mexico and Texas at the Rio Grande
Gave the U.S. territory known as Mexican Cession in exchange for $15 million
Modern day: CA, NV, NM, UT, AZ*, CO*, WY*
U.S. guarantees it will respect the property rights of Mexican inhabitants (it won’t)
The Gadsden Purchase (1853)
$10 million
South of the Gila River (AZ, NM)
Transcontinental railroad

25. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)
Settled the boundary between Mexico and Texas at the Rio Grande
Gave the U.S. territory known as Mexican Cession in exchange for $15 million
Modern day: CA, NV, NM, UT, AZ*, CO*, WY*
U.S. guarantees it will respect the property rights of Mexican inhabitants (it won’t)
The Gadsden Purchase (1853)
$10 million
South of the Gila River (AZ, NM)
Transcontinental railroad

26. California