Manifest Destiny

US Westward Expansion

John Gasts 1872 painting, American Progress

Manifest Destiny
Popularized by newspaper editor, John L. Sullivan Expression of Americans unique mission Belief in America as the vessel of the progress of civilization

Manifest Destiny

a combination of idealism and racism took hold in the U.S. during the mid-19th C. drove Americans to expand their nation across the North American continent

The Great Migration

1843 began massive move Westward wagon train Btwn. 1843-1869, over million people migrated west o Some to Oregon (farmland) o Others to California (1849 Gold Rush) Died down in 1869 when transcontinental railroad was completed

James K. Polk
1845-1849 Young Hickory Embodied the concept of Manifest Destiny Goals as a Presidential candidate: 1) California, 2)Oregon, 3) reduce tariff US grew into a continental nation under JKP

Oregon Trail

Oregon Trail
More than a pathway to Oregon the only practical corridor to entire western US Exceptionally difficult
o o o o 2,000 miles 1 in 10 died Many walked entirety in bare feet Cholera, poor sanitation & accidental gunshots were top causes of death (NOT Native Americans)

The Alamo- Clip

US Mexican War
May 13, 1846 - Polk signed a declaration of war against Mexico Hoped to:
o secure the border of Texas o gain the commercially valuable territories of California and New Mexico

US Mexican War
James K. Polks 3-Part Strategy
1. 2. 3. Ordered Navy to blockade Mexicos coastlines Zachary Taylors army was to push into Northeast Mexico A second army would march west to occupy New Mexico & California

If Mexico would not sell, then Polk would take by force

Zachary Taylor

Antiwar Factions
Against territorial expansion fear of expanding slavery Wilmot Proviso
o David Wilmot (PA) o Attached to funding for war o Required a no slavery agreement in any new territory o Defeated (passed in HOR, defeated in Senate)

US Mexican War

Treaty of GuadalupeHidalgo
Ended US-Mexican War (Mexico surrendered) Negotiated by (US reps only)
o Nicholas Trist, chief clerk State Dept. o Gen. Winfield Scott, representative of Polk

Terms
o Relinquished all claims to Texas o Recognized Rio Grande as Southern boundary of US o Mexico ceded to the US Upper California & New Mexico (known as the Mexican Cession) o Includes present-day AZ, NM, parts of UT, NV & CO

Outside of the treaty- U.S. Pays Mexico $20 million for land

Results
Territories Gained o Texas (annexed 1845) o Oregon Country (compromi se of 1846) o Mexican Territory (annexed 1848)

Consequences of War
13,000 American lives Long-lasting tensions with Mexico Training ground for Civil War (incl. Robert E. Lee & Ulysses Grant)