Expanding Markets and Moving West 9.2 – Manifest Destiny

9.2 - Manifest Destiny

Main Idea

Essential Question

What factors compelled settlers to

move West during Manifest Destiny?

Objectives

Summarize the reasons American settlers

headed West during the Mid-1800s

Describe the impact of Westward

expansion on Native

Americans

Identify the Westward trails and

some of the pioneers who used

them

Quote of the Day“And that claim is by the right of our manifest destiny to

overspread and to possess the whole of the continent which

Providence has given us for the development of the great experiment of liberty and

federated self-government entrusted to us.”

John L. O’Sullivan(1839)

The Frontier Draws Settlers

Jefferson envisioned that America would become an “empire of liberty” across the continent

In the 1840s and 1850s, many Americans felt that God had "manifestly" destined the American people to spread their democratic institutions over the entire continent and over South America as well Democratic Party embraces Manifest Destiny because it could

expand the number of slave states Expansion fever grips the country as national pride swells

Manifest Destiny – Webster-Ashburn Treaty –

Established stronger diplomatic ties with Britain to settle disputes

Americans Headed West To…

Settlers and Native Americans

As settlers moved West, Native communities were disrupted once more. Some Natives tried to maintain ties to their heritage, some assimilated

The Black Hawk War – Chief Black Hawk believed he was destined to lead

his people in a rebellion against the US, who had taken his people “prisoner”

Treaty of Fort Laramie –

How did Manifest Destiny impact Native Americans?

The Mormon Migration

Mormons –

Joseph Smith –

Brigham Young

Exodus was an attempt to avoid religious persecution

Traveling West

Santa Fe Trail –

Wagons rode together in caravans to avoid threat of bandits and Natives

Oregon Trail –

Diseases proved deadly over grueling trail

Britain controlled portion north of Columbia River.  By 1844 5,000 Americans settled south of Columbia River.  British had less population but it did not want to give up its land claims. Dispute became issue in 1844 election

Not Again!

Polk Takes Office James K. Polk fashioned himself as a disciple of Andrew Jackson,

even fashioning himself as “Young Hickory.” Before his Presidency, he was Governor of Tennessee and the Speaker of the House of Representatives

James K. Polk – Defeats Whig Party candidate Henry Clay for Presidency

“Fifty-Four Forty or Fight” – Canadian border extended to Oregon, resolving the dispute. The

boundary with Mexico would prove more problematic Although the independent Treasury did restrict the reckless

speculative expansion of credit, it also tended to create a new set of economic problems. In periods of prosperity, revenue surpluses accumulated in the Treasury, reducing hard money circulation, tightening credit, and restraining even legitimate expansion of trade and production.

Polk’s accomplishme

nts as President