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MANIFEST DESTINY. Americans move West , energized by their belief in the rightful expansion of the United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Studying the picture above, bullet in your notebook what is being depicted, who is in the picture, and what they are doing. .
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MANIFEST DESTINY Americans move West, energized by their belief in the rightful expansion of the United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
Studying the picture above, bullet in your notebook what is being depicted, who is in the picture, and what they are doing.
John GastAmerican Progress (c. 1872) • Columbia, a personification of the United States, leads civilization westward with American settlers, stringing telegraph wire as she travels; she holds a school book. • The different economic activities of the pioneers are highlighted as well as the changing forms of transportation. • The Native Americans and wild animals flee before the settlers
What is Manifest Destiny? • Term used to justify westward expansion into areas such as Texas, Oregon, and California • Americans, the "chosen people," had a mission to spread democracy to the less fortunate • Native Americans and other non-Europeans • Religious connections with Manifest Destiny were very common • Supported mainly by Democrats and some Whigs
John O’Sullivan’s “Manifest Destiny” Term first coined by newspaper editor, John O’Sullivan in 1845 ".... the right of our manifest destiny to over spread and to possess the whole of the continent which Providence has given us for the development of the great experiment of liberty and federaltive development of self-government entrusted to us. It is right such as that of the tree to the space of air and the earth suitable for the full expansion of its principle and destiny of growth."
Why Go Westward? • America’s “destiny” to expand • Spread religious beliefs; civilize and educate Native Americans • Direct route to the Pacific Ocean • Need natural resources and farming land • Cities were becoming overcrowded • National and border security • Increase American nationalism and pride for the nation • Possibility of expanding land open or closed to slavery depending on your point of view • New states
Opposition to Manifest Destiny • Rejected the idea it was God's will to expand when it resulted in warfare and mistreatment of Native peoples • Talk of the need to "civilize" the "savages" who lived in the west was clearly racist
Impact on Native Americans • Small numbers of displaced natives fight settlers • Treaty of Fort Laramie(1851) • Native Americans get control of Central Plains • Promise not to attack settlers • U.S. pledges to honor boundaries • Settlers #s increase, deplete buffalo, elk herds • U.S. government violates treaty terms
Opposition Continued • Overexpansion risked spreading resources too thin • U.S. had enough land and should stop seeking more • U.S. would never have tolerated being treated the way it was treating other countries (such as Mexico) • Territorial expansion was unconstitutional • Expansion as helping the spread of slavery – would increase the tensions between the North and South
Do Now You’ve seen the arguments for and against Manifest Destiny. Which argument do you agree with more? Take 5 minutes to share with the person sitting next to you.
American Attitudes Toward the Frontier Many Americans had practical reasons for moving west… • Economic problems (Panic of 1837) • Abundance of land enticing to many who wanted a “fresh start” • Owning land was a step towards prosperity • Who Moved West? • Farmers • Miners • Merchants seeking new markets
Overland Immigration to the West Between 1840 and 1860, more than 250,000 people made the trek westward
Wasn’t All Beautiful Sunsets Though… • Natives: • Diseases • Violence with settlers • Settlers: • Perilous journey • Died from disease & famine • Animals lost due to lack of resources, attacks by wild animals, and Indian attacks
The Santa Fe Trail • One of the busiest trails • 780 mile trail from Independence, Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico
The Santa Fe Trail Traveled the first 150 miles alone, then banded together for protection against Native Americans Raced to enter New Mexico to trade for gold, silver, and furs Returned to the U.S. SIGNIFICANCE: Traders established first American presence in Mexican provinces New Mexico and Arizona
The Oregon Trail • Started in Independence, Missouri and ended in Portland, Oregon • Followed some of the same paths Lewis & Clark had followed
Difficulties on the Oregon Trail Took months Traveled in Conestoga Wagons Often walked, pushing heavy handcarts Many died fromfever, diarrhea, and cholera. Buried on the trail Attacked by Native Americans
The Mormon Migration • NY: Joseph Smith forms Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints • Illinois: Anti-Mormon mob killed Smith and his brother • Partially because of belief in polygamy • Mormons forced to move west
The Mormon Migration • Brigham Young led the Mormons west, beyond U.S. borders • Mormons settle near the Great Salt Lake in present day Utah • Mormon settlement: • Families given plots of land according to size of family • Communal ownership of water and timber
The Oregon Dispute: 54’ 40º or Fight! • 1840s:“Oregon Fever”encouraged through promise of free land • Newspapers adopt slogan “Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!” • Wanted to annex Oregon • Britain & the U.S. jointly occupied area • 1846: U.S. and Britain agree to extend the mainland boundary with Canada along the 49thparallel • Establishes the current U.S. border
