MANIFEST DESTINY

Definition

• Manifest Destiny means “obvious fate”• 1845 John O’sullivan stated it was

America’s “manifest destiny to overspread and possess the whole of the continent”

• He said “the God of nature and nations has marked it for our own.”

FLORIDA CESSION1819

– Spain controlled Florida– Seminole Indians from Florida would raid across

border into US attacking settlements– Andrew Jackson sent American troops into Florida to

stop attacks– President Madison warned Spain to stop the Indians

from raiding or giving the land to the US– Spain did not have the troops to do this – Fearing US would take the land, Spain sold it to the

US for $5 million

TRAIL OF TEARS

1835-1838

Background

• By 1820 only 125,000 Indians (creek, Chickasaw, Cherokee, Choctaw, and Seminole) lived east of Mississippi

• These tribes owned rich land that southerners wanted for cotton growing

• 1830 congress passed the Indian removal act-all Indians had to move west of Mississippi

Trail of Tears

• Between 1835-1838 tribes were forced to march to lands west of Mississippi

• Little food or shelter• Many only allowed to take the clothes they

wore• About ¼ of Indians died during the march

Alamo/ Texas Independence

Background

• In 1821, Mexico gained its independence from Spain

• Mexican government invited Americans to live in Texas ( part of Mexico (. Thought they would help develop land, help control Indians

• Stephen Austin’s group granted 640 acres of land each if they agreed to become Mexican citizens, obey Mexican laws, worship in the Catholic Church

• By 1830, 20,000 Americans in Texas—good land for growing cotton

Background Continued

• More settlers come but do not obey the rules set down by Mexican government

• Mexican government says no more Americans allowed—worried they would want to become part of US

• Mexicans try to enforce rules—Americans get mad and the two begin fighting

Alamo

• At san Antonio, Texas 1836• 188 Texans take cover in a mission, the

Alamo• Fought for 12 days against Santa Anna's

forces but were all killed• Defeat inspired other American troops to

find Santa Anna's army battle at san Jacinto river Mexicans defeated

• Texas granted its independence

Texas Annexation1845

Texas Annexation

• Annex means to add on to• Texas has been an independent nation,

The Lone Star Republic, for 10 years. • Some wanted it to become part of US,

others didn’t • In 1845, Congress agreed to the

annexation

Oregon Territory1846

Oregon

• Claimed by England, Spain, Russia and US • 1818 Spain and Russia gave up their claims

because they had few settlers there• In 1844 when Polk ran for President he ran on

the slogan 54 40’ or fight (northern latitude of the territory).

• Neither Britain or the US wanted war so they compromised on the territory. The US boundary would be everything below 49.

• This later became the states of Oregon (1859), Washington (1889) Idaho (1890)

Mexican War

1846-1848

Background

• There was also a border depute over where the southern border of Texas separated it from Mexico

• The US also wanted to buy part of California and new Mexico as part of idea of manifest destiny, Mexico wouldn’t sell.

Mexican War

• 1846 president Polk sends troops into disputed area/fighting breaks out/Polk asks congress to declare war

• By 1847 US controls California, new Mexico and wins Mexico city.

• 1848 Mexico signs treaty of Guadalupe hidalgo. • Mexico gave up claims to all of California and the

new Mexico territory. This is called the Mexican cession. We paid Mexico $15 million

Gadsden Purchase1853

Gadsden Purchase

• In 1853, US paid Mexico $10 million for a strip of land that is now apart of Arizona and New Mexico

• This finished the contiguous United States