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Manifest Destiny

Explore how Americans justified Westward Expansion through the concept of Manifest Destiny. Examine the painting "American Progress" and historical maps to contextualize the expansion. Analyze the reasoning behind Manifest Destiny and its impact on Native Americans and Mexico.

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Manifest Destiny

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  1. Manifest Destiny manifest: clear or obvious destiny: future or fate SWBAT: Determine how Americans justified Westward Expansion

  2. John Gast, American Progress, 1872

  3. Questions to Consider • Who are the people moving from the right side of the painting to the left side of the painting? • What do you notice is different about the left side of the painting compared to the right side of the painting? • Who lived in the West during this time? • How would you describe the woman at the center of the painting? • What does the artist think about Manifest Destiny? Do you agree with that position? • Do you think that the West was dark and American settlers spread the light? Explain. • What would Native Americans and Mexican settlers have thought?

  4. Map of the United States, 1872 • By 1872, the United States had already expanded to the Pacific Ocean. • Post-Louisiana Purchase, after the War with Mexico. • The painting is basically celebrating what had already happened.

  5. Contemporary Map of the 1816 U.S. • But in 1816, we hadn’t spread that far yet. • This is before the annexation of Texas and the Mexican War.

  6. John Melish, Map of the U.S. with the contiguous British and Spanish Possessions,1816

  7. Melish’s Comments on his 1816 Map of the United States To present the country this way was desirable . . . The map shows at a glance the whole extent of the United States territory from sea to sea. In tracing the probable expansion of the human race from east to west, the mind finds an agreeable resting place on its western limits. The view is complete and leaves nothing to be wished for. It also adds to the beauty and symmetry of the map. Source: John Melish. Map of the United States with the contiguous British and Spanish Possessions. Philadelphia, 1816.

  8. Contextualize • With your partner, use the two documents written by John O’Sullivan to: • Contextualize the information (Who, What, When, Where, Why, How?) • Broaden the context (How is the topic similar to a different time? U.S. History only!) • Respond to the DBQs with your partner

  9. Manifest Destiny • Term used to express the idea that Americans were destined by God to settle North America from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean • Spread democracy & republicanism • Spread Protestantism • Support American’s growing population But whose version of republicanism & democracy?

  10. Manifest Destiny Reasoning: • Christian duty/mission to extend (God-given right to) • Civilize the “Natives”; racial superiority (moral duty) • Safety valve (release population “pressure” from the East) • No boundary blocking us

  11. Manifest Destiny • Caused tensions with Native Americans and Mexico  Annexation of Texas & War with Mexico

  12. Wrap Up • How did Americans justify Westward Expansion? • This theory that Americans are special is called ______________ ____________ What do you think about this theory? • What issues did Westward Expansion further aggravate?

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