Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion in American History

1. AP Chapter 14 Territorial Expansion of the U.S.

2. Westward Expansion Less than 60 years since independence more than half the population lived west of the Appalachian Mts. Fur trade flourished from 1670-1840 and allowed for the exploration and expansion westward Jebediah Smith a ‘Mountain Man” explored westward and made contact with the Native Americas

4. Lewis and Clark Expedition mapped out the west and led to some small military expeditions John C. Freemont mapped the overland trails to Oregon and California in the early 1840s Explorers mapped out trails, rivers and mountain ranges that eventually led to settlement westward

5. Lewis and Clark

7. John C. Freemont

8. Expansion and Indian Policy Indians began being removed from their homelands in OK, NE and KS to make way for white settlers Santa Fe Trail- 900 mile long trail used by merchants that traded throughout the Great Plains Trail allowed for commerce to move but also led to conflict with the Indians

9. Santa Fe Trail

10. Political Expansion Frederick Jackson Turner’s Frontier Thesis (1890) talked about the U.S. frontier experience and how it impacted our country Manifest Destiny- coined by John O’Sullivan preached U.S. efforts to control the land from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans b/c it was our god given right Expansion was tied to politics and slavery

12. The Overland Trails 2,000 mile trip on the Overland Trails from the Missouri River to Oregon/California took at least 7 months and was dangerous Pioneers often traveled in groups to prevent Indian attacks and help get across the rivers Wagons trains experienced exhaustion, diseases along with nature

14. Oregon Territory U.S. and GB had shared the territory 1840s both countries claim to own more land than the other “54-40 or Fight”- became a battle cry for war over the area 1846 Settlement set a dividing line along the 49th Parallel

15. Oregon Dispute

16. The Santa Fe Trade When Mexico won its independence they allowed American merchants to Santa Fe Indian attacks along the trail were more common than along the Oregon trails Congress voted for protection along the trail even though most of it was in Mexico Americans and Mexicans intertwined economically and socially

17. Texas Texas territory was controlled by Mexico but many of the inhabitants were Americans who owned slaves Stephen Austin (U.S.) was a powerful land agent in Texas Austin tried to mediate a peace between Mexicans and U.S. settlers but war broke out in 1835

20. Annexation of Texas

21. Americans lost badly at the Alamo but led by Sam Houston they defeated Santa Anna’s forces 1836 Texas wins its independence and was a free country from 1836-1845 mainly over a boundary dispute on the Rio Grande Mexicans were furious over the lost territory and refused to recognize the treaty

22. Election of 1844 Texas tried to become a slave state but denied b/c it would upset the balance in the Senate Texans wanted to be annexed by the U.S. Pres. Tyler lost the election to James K. Polk (D) Tyler's last action made Texas the 28th state and the 15th slave state

24. Mexican American War 1846-48 Mexico was upset by losing Texas and Americans wanted to fulfill their Manifest Destiny desire John C. Freemont led the Bear Flag Revolt and declared California’s independent from Mexico Pres. James K. Polk was an expansionist and went to war with Mexico

26. Polk had tried to buy Rio Grande border between Mexico and Texas but they refused Congress declared war in May of 1846 War divided the American people and Whigs were against it Henry David Thoreau refused to pay taxes that he felt would support the war and went to jail Thoreau wrote “Civil Disobedience” which criticized the govt.

27. Henry David Thoreau

28. By late 1846 the U.S. had secured most of the territory that they had hoped for but the war dragged on Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) ended the war the U.S. acquired the Mexican Cession, Rio Grande border and paid $15 million to Mexico Gadsden Purchase- $10 million was done for the purpose of a southern transcontinental RR

29. Mexican Cession

31. Gadsden Purchase

33. The war was the first with regular on scene reporting by the press Generals Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott became famous from the war U.S. fulfilled its goal of Manifest Destiny Mexico lost a huge portion of its territory and resentment remained for years to come

34. Gold Rush in California 1848 Gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill by James Marshall in California which led to the Gold Rush of 1849. Thousands of Americans and Asians begin to flock to California Americans did not like the Chinese and later placed a tax on foreign miners

35. California Gold Rush

37. Merchants that sold goods to the miners made the most money Levi Strauss became famous for his tough work pants sold to the miners Mining towns sprung up wherever gold/silver was found and were dirty, violent places California’s population skyrocketed and was very cultural diverse

38. Wilmot Proviso Congressman Wilmot (PA) proposed that the new Mexican Territory ban slavery Debate over the bill led to clear divisions between the North and South over the issue of slavery Whigs and Democrats from both sections joined together to support or oppose the Proviso

39. Free Soil Movement Started off as the Liberty Party and by 1844 became the Free Soil Party that supported the abolition of slavery Free Soiler’s were okay with slavery remaining in existing states but were against the extension into the new territories Some even proposed to limit blacks from migrating west

41. Election of 1848 Lewis Cass (D) vs. Z. Taylor (W) vs. Van Buren (FS) battled for the presidency Popular Sovereignty became a major issue of the election Taylor won the presidency but died in office

43. Conclusion U.S. wanted to expand its borders no matter what Manifest Destiny became the rallying cry for U.S. expansion U.S. acquired land through conquest, purchase, treaties, annexation and war