Manifest Destiny

Devon Johnson

Main Idea

• Manifest Destiny was coined by American journalist John Louis O'Sullivan in July 1845.

• Term was used to describe the ideology that Americans had a divine obligation to expand westwards.

Why did Americans Expand?

Political Reasons Economic Reasons Religious Reasons

U.S. Expansion

Louisiana Purchase

• Treaty known as the Louisiana Purchase was made with France in 1803

• It more than doubled the size of the U.S.• Territory was purchased for $15 million

Lone Star Republic

• By 1821 when Mexico was granted independence from Spain, the land in modern-day Texas was sparsely populated.

• Mexicans welcomed American immigrants, but compromises had to be made.

• In 1935, war broke out betweenthe settlers and the Mexicans

• In 1936, the Texans declaredindependence.

Oregon Territory

• The Oregon Territory was another area that was under dispute. It spanned modern-day Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and part of British Columbia.

• The Oregon Territory was claimed by both America and Britain. The Treaty of 1818 was only a temporary solution.

• In 1844, James K. Polk was elected President,and pledged to end theBritish claims on the territory.

Mexican-American War

• Border disputes provoked violence between Mexico and the U.S.

• In May of 1846, the Mexican-American war began after Mexicans fired on American soldiers on the Rio Grande River.

• Evidence suggests thatsending Americansacross the “border”was a way to provokewar.

Mexican-American War

• At the beginning of the war, the American Army numbered 8,000. Soon, 60,000 recruits joined them.

• America won every conflict in the war, despite the loss of 13,000 soldiers.

California Gold Rush

• The gold rush began in 1848• When James Marshall discovered gold, people from

all over the state flocked the area.• Mining towns were constructed as many came to seek

out riches. Few found gold, but some struck rich.

Sources

Manifest Destiny, 1790-1850 (Overview). (2013). In American History. Retrieved March 12, 2013, from http://americanhistory.abc-clio.com/

U.S. History. (2008, April 12). U.s. history online textbook. Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/us/29.asp

Brinkley, A. (1995). american history . mcGraw hill Retrieved from http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/essays/1801-1900/manifest-destiny/manifest-destiny---the-philosophy-that-created-a-nation.php

O'Sullivan, J. L. (n.d.). Pbs. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/kera/usmexicanwar/resources/manifest_destiny_sullivan.html