Manifest Destiny
“Manifest Destiny”
First coined by newspaper editor, John O’Sullivan in 1845.
".... the right of our manifest destiny to over spread and
to possess the whole of the continent which Providence
has given us for the development of the great experiment of
liberty and federaltive development of self-government
entrusted to us. It is right such as that of the tree to the
space of air and the earth suitable for the full expansion of
its principle and destiny of growth."
A myth of the West as a land of romance and adventure
emerged.
Manifest Destiny
T---Texas
O—Oregon
M---Mexican War
Most Americans were satisfied temporarily with
the acquisition of La. Purchase and Florida
By the 1840’s Americans were expansion
minded
Many believed the nation was “destined” to
spread to the Pacific Coast---or over the entire
continent
Why?
Land hungry Americans who eyed tracts of rich
but sparsely settled lands
Patriots feared British designs upon such land
Eastern merchants that traded with Asia needed
ports on the Pacific Coast
Nationalism—spread freedom and American
greatness
Northerners saw it as way to end slavery
Moving West
Increase in transportation was viewed by
speculators as a source of wealth
Others saw the West as a way to get rich
(fur trappers, mountain-men, gold seekers)
Most images of the West come from “pop
culture”
Kit Carson—Jeremiah Johnson
John Jacob Astor
German immigrant
Set up trading posts that extended from St.
Louis to the Pacific
Richest man in America by 1848
The Attraction to the West
Economic prosperity
Cheap land
New Englanders moved due to a lack of
farmland
Who and Were
Texas—1820 to 1830
Led by Stephen F. Austin
The Spanish gave land grants for all willing to
convert an NO SLAVERY
SFA charged 12 ½ cents per acre filing fee
Oregon
Established by Protestant Missionaries
Encouraged by the Methodist Church
The trek began in St. Louis
Claimed be both Great Britain and the US
British Claims
Voyages of Sir Francis Drake
Voyages of Cook and Vancouver
Activities of the Hudson Bay Company
US Claims
Discovery of the Columbia River in 1792
Discoveries of Lewis and Clark
Activities of John Jacob Astor
American population=5,000 by 1845
Oregon was a campaign issue of Polk—later the
issue was resolved
Utah
Settled by the Mormons (Great Basin—Salt Lake)
Originally led by Joseph Smith (went from NY to Ill)
Brigham Young—led followers to the Great Salt Lake
Mormons needed land for large families-Polygamy
The land was owned by God
California-SW
Originally settled by the Spanish as a series of
missions
People that moved west were not trying to
create a new lifestyle---they really wanted to
recreate the lives they left behind
Migrants were limited by geography
Geography
Life was hard—everyone had to “pitch in”
Some land was Indian land that was left behind
Indian tensions—Marcus and Narcissa Whitman
were missionaries that were murdered
Obstacles
Europeans owned large parts of NA
Disputed boundaries-Maine and Canada
Oregon questions with GB
Aroostook “War,” 1839
The only war ever declared by a state.
Between the Canadian region of New
Brunswick and the state of Maine.
Cause: The expulsion of Canadian lumberjacks in
the disputed area of Aroostook by Maine
officials.
Congress called up 50,000 men and voted for
$10,000,000 to pay for the “war.”
General Winfield Scott arranged a truce, and a
border commission was convened to resolve the
issue.
Maine Boundary Settlement, 1842
Key Figures in Texas Independence, 1836
Sam Houston Steven Austin
(1793-1863) (1793-1836)
Texas
Mexico was granted independence in 1821
Most settlers ignored Mexican law (slavery)
1833-SFA went to Mexico City to ask the gov.
to ease up on settlers
Gen. Santa Anna seized control of the gov. and
declared himself “Napoleon of the West”
Texas
Santa Anna wanted to enforce Mexican law—
Texans revolted and appointed Sam Houston
c-i-c
Santa Anna captured the town of Goliad and
moved onto San Antonio “The Alamo” (Davy
Crockett)
The final battle occurred at San Jacinto-Santa
Anna was forced to surrender and recognize
Texan independence
Texas
Sam Houston was appointed President of the
Lone Star Republic and asked the US to annex
Texas
Jackson and Van Buren put it off
Tyler wanted to annex Texas---J.Q. Adams led a
filibuster to block annexation (slave territories)
Texas was a presidential campaign
Texas
Henry Clay straddled the issue
James K. Polk demanded annexation
Tyler suggested a joint resolution
Treaties require a 2/3 vote
J.R. require a majority
Texas was annexed by a joint resolution in 1845
Election of 1840
Martin Van Buren
William Henry Harrison (John Tyler)
“Tippecanoe and Tyler Too”
“Van, Van is a used up man”
Harrison dies within a month
Election of 1844
Polk -----“54º 40’, or Fight!”
C---California
O---Oregon
I---Independent Treasury
L---Lowering the Tariff
Polk was a “Dark Horse Candidate”
The Oregon Dispute: 54’ 40º or Fight!
By the mid-1840s,
“Oregon Fever” was
spurred on by the
promise of free land.
The joint British-
U. S. occupation
ended in 1846.
1844 Election Results
The Slidell Mission: Nov., 1845
Mexican recognition of the Rio
Grande River as the TX-US border.
US would forgive American citizens’
claims against the Mexican govt.
US would purchase the New Mexico
area and California.
John Slidell
The War
Polk sent Gen. Zachary Taylor to the Rio
Grande—battle ensued
Polk wanted a declaration of war---American
blood had been shed on American soil
Northern Whigs opposed the war (A. Lincoln)
See chart for key events
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 1848
The Treaty was basically forced on Mexico!
Mexico gave up claims to Texas above the Rio
Grande River.
Mexico gave the U. S. California and New Mexico.
U. S. gave Mexico $15,000,000 and agreed to pay
the claims of American citizens against Mexico
(over $3,500,000).
Wilmot Proviso, 1846
Provided, territory from that, as an
express and fundamental condition to
the acquisition of any the Republic of
Mexico by the United States, by virtue
of any treaty which may be negotiated
between them, and to the use by the
Executive of the moneys herein
appropriated, neither slavery nor
involuntary servitude shall ever exist
in any part of said territory, except for
crime, whereof the party shall first be
duly convicted.
Congr. David Wilmot
(D-PA)
Results of the Mexican War?
1. The 17-month war cost $100,000,000 and 13,000+
American lives (mostly of disease).
2. New territories were brought into the Union which forced the
explosive issue of SLAVERY to the center of national politics.
Most Northerners saw the war as a way to extend slavery
* Brought in 1 million sq. mi. of land (incl. TX)
3. These new territories would upset the balance of power between North
and South.
4. Created two popular Whig generals who ran for President.
5. Manifest Destiny partially realized.
The Mexican War (1846-1848)
Manifest Destiny in the South
Polk tried to purchase Cuba for $100 million-
Spain refused
Franklin Pierce (1852) sent three delegates to
Ostend, Belgium to buy Cuba –the plan was
leaked to the press and Pierce was forced to
drop it
William Walker-1853 failed attempt to take Baja
California-1855 took over Nicaraugua-executed
in 1860 by Honduran authorities
Expansionist Young America in the 1850s
America’s Attempted Raids into Latin America
Manifest Destiny in the South
Clayton-Bulwer Treaty (1850)
Concerned the building of a canal through
Central America
Great Britain and the US wanted to control the
canal-but agreed neither country would take
complete control
This treaty was replaced by the Hay-Pauncefote
Treaty of 1901
Gadsden Purchase
President Pierce was able to add a strip of land
in the Southwest for the railroad (1853)
Purchased from Mexico for $10 million
Added land in New Mexico and Arizona
Territorial Growth to 1853
Economic Expansion
Industrial Expansion
Before 1840 the factory system had been
concentrated in New England
After 1840 the factory system began to spread
throughout the Northeast
The invention of the sewing machine helped
close down cottage industries
Communication was changed with the creation
of the telegraph (1844-Samuel F.B. Morse)
Railroads
Canal building (1820s-1830s) was replaced by
rail lines
Expansion of the railroad was popular-local
farmers and merchants bought stock in the
railroads
All areas of the US could be linked
Foreign Commerce
The growth of manufacturing and agriculture
helped lead to a growth in exports and imports
Other reasons for growth in trade:
1.Shipping companies began to use schedules
2.Demand for whale oil
3.Improvements and new designs for ships
4.Steamships began to emerge
5.The opening of Japan (Comm. Perry) in 1854
Panic of 1857
The economic boom ended with a panic
Serious drop in prices especially for mid-
western farmers
Unemployment in the north
The South was affected less-cotton prices
remained high