Manifest DestinyManifest Destiny(1800 - 1900)(1800 - 1900)

Definition of Manifest DestinyDefinition of Manifest Destiny

Theory that Americans were “destined” to expand Theory that Americans were “destined” to expand their govt (freedom; liberty)their govt (freedom; liberty)

Previously based on the “City upon a Hill” theory in Previously based on the “City upon a Hill” theory in Puritan New EnglandPuritan New England

Americans used this theory to Americans used this theory to justifyjustify their reasons their reasons for territorial acquisitions and westward expansionfor territorial acquisitions and westward expansion

Obstacles facing ExpansionObstacles facing Expansion

1.) 1.) Indian Settlements & TribesIndian Settlements & Tribes - Larger in West; more resistant- Larger in West; more resistant - Nomadic; harder to - Nomadic; harder to assimilateassimilate

to American culture to American culture 2.) 2.) Physical BarriersPhysical Barriers

- Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevadas, deserts- Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevadas, deserts - Largely unknown/unexplored- Largely unknown/unexplored

3.) 3.) EconomicsEconomics - Money needed to fund trips;- Money needed to fund trips;

for survival for survival

French & Indian War (1763)French & Indian War (1763)

• Defeat of French temporarily ends their occupation Defeat of French temporarily ends their occupation of North Americaof North America

• Settlers and Settlers and identured servantsidentured servants begin to move begin to move westward to gain cheap farmlandwestward to gain cheap farmland

• Begin occupying western Begin occupying western parts of Virginia, New York, parts of Virginia, New York, Georgia, & North CarolinaGeorgia, & North Carolina

Cumberland Gap (1775)Cumberland Gap (1775)

• Daniel Boone sets out to create a trail through the Daniel Boone sets out to create a trail through the Appalachian mountainsAppalachian mountains

• Met with heavy Indian resistanceMet with heavy Indian resistance

• Boone succeeds and creates the Boone succeeds and creates the Wilderness TrailWilderness Trail

• Settles and founds the District of KentuckySettles and founds the District of Kentucky

• Opens up Kentucky & Tennessee to settlementOpens up Kentucky & Tennessee to settlement

Wilderness Trail ( c. 1775)Wilderness Trail ( c. 1775)

Northwest Ordinance (1783)Northwest Ordinance (1783)

• Creates a process to Creates a process to admit new states west admit new states west of the original 13of the original 13

• Creates the states of Creates the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin & MichiganWisconsin & Michigan

• 11stst time govt. supports time govt. supports westward expansion!!!westward expansion!!!

Louisiana Purchase (1803)Louisiana Purchase (1803)

• Jefferson purchases territory from FranceJefferson purchases territory from France

• Gives US free access to the Mississippi RiverGives US free access to the Mississippi River

• Opportunities for trade, trapping, agriculture, natural Opportunities for trade, trapping, agriculture, natural resources, resources, wealthwealth

• Doubles the size Doubles the size of the USof the US

Lewis & Clark (1805)Lewis & Clark (1805)

• Sponsored by Jefferson (govt.)Sponsored by Jefferson (govt.)

• Expedition cuts trails through previous wildernessExpedition cuts trails through previous wilderness

• Discovers profitable resources Discovers profitable resources (beaver pelts, lumber, buffalo)(beaver pelts, lumber, buffalo)

• Details the geography of the areaDetails the geography of the area

• Opportunity again for cheap land Opportunity again for cheap land and wealthand wealth

Indian Removal Programs (1830)Indian Removal Programs (1830)

• Govt. sponsoredGovt. sponsored

• Removes Natives from Removes Natives from current lands, places them current lands, places them in in reservationsreservations known as known as the the Indian Territory Indian Territory (later state of Oklahoma)(later state of Oklahoma)

• Removal of Natives opens Removal of Natives opens up lands to American up lands to American settlers & new immigrantssettlers & new immigrants

Texas & the Alamo (1836)Texas & the Alamo (1836)

• Americans begin to settle Texas (part of Mexico)Americans begin to settle Texas (part of Mexico)

• Soon outnumber Mexicans 10 to 1Soon outnumber Mexicans 10 to 1

• Important role in becoming a Important role in becoming a slave stateslave state

• Texas receives independence in Texas receives independence in 1836; becomes a state in 18451836; becomes a state in 1845

• Drives further settlement Drives further settlement in the areas of Texas &in the areas of Texas &New MexicoNew Mexico

Mexican Cession (1848)Mexican Cession (1848)

• US defeats Mexico in Mexican-American WarUS defeats Mexico in Mexican-American War

• Major acquisition: Major acquisition: CALIFORNIACALIFORNIA

• Americans begin “exodus” to California; largest Americans begin “exodus” to California; largest mass movement of people in US historymass movement of people in US history

• US also acquires Arizona, Nevada, Utah, & parts US also acquires Arizona, Nevada, Utah, & parts of Colorado & New Mexicoof Colorado & New Mexico

Gadsden Purchase (1854)Gadsden Purchase (1854)

• US buys land from Mexico (Mexicans needs $$ US buys land from Mexico (Mexicans needs $$ for war debt)for war debt)

• Finalizes US border with MexicoFinalizes US border with Mexico

• 29,000 sq. miles29,000 sq. miles

• Allows for railroad connection to CaliforniaAllows for railroad connection to California

California Gold Rush (1849)California Gold Rush (1849)

Gold is discovered in Sutter's Mill, CAGold is discovered in Sutter's Mill, CA Over 300,000 people flood to gold fields to strike Over 300,000 people flood to gold fields to strike

it rich; land prices & real estate soarit rich; land prices & real estate soar Economies of west grow (supplies, stores, inns)Economies of west grow (supplies, stores, inns) California's population soars; mixture of Americans California's population soars; mixture of Americans

& new immigrants (Australia, China, Mexico)& new immigrants (Australia, China, Mexico) In one year (1850), California In one year (1850), California

enters the US as a enters the US as a free statefree state

Webster-Ashburton Treaty (1842)Webster-Ashburton Treaty (1842)

• Settled northern boundary Settled northern boundary between Maine & Canadabetween Maine & Canada

• Created the 49Created the 49thth Parallel as Parallel as northern boundary in west northern boundary in west (Montana, Idaho, Washington)(Montana, Idaho, Washington)

• US & Canada agree to share US & Canada agree to share use of the Great Lakesuse of the Great Lakes

• ChicagoChicago emerges as major emerges as major economic center; economic center; connects East to Westconnects East to West