manifest destiny chapter 6, section 1. americans head west hundreds of thousands of americans...
TRANSCRIPT
MANIFEST DESTINY
Chapter 6, Section 1
Americans Head West
Hundreds of thousands of Americans migrated west in the 1840s and 1850s
People went to different places, for different reasons
All dreamed of new opportunities and a better life
“Multiplying Millions”
1840 – the population had grown to six times the size of what it had been during the American Revolution
Many Americans believed in Manifest Destiny – the idea that the nation had a God-given right to all of North America Term was first used by John L. O’Sullivan
Manifest Destiny
“Our Manifest Destiny [is to] overspread the continent allotted by Province [God’s power] for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions.”
Reasons for Westward Migration
Mountain men were among the first to migrate – went west to trap and trade
Missionaries – hoped to convert Native Americans to Christianity
Lumberjacks and Miners – wanted to capitalize on the region’s natural resources
Farmers – moved west to farm the vast, rich land
Entrepreneurs – moved west to invest their money in hopes of making a profit
Major Western Trails
No train tracks or smooth highways led from the east to the far west in the 1840s and 1850s
Migrants rode in wagons pulled by oxen or horses, or by walking
Some walked hundreds of miles to reach their new homes
Major Western Trails
Santa Fe Trail First major western trail led from
Independence, Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico
News of the wealth of Santa Fe motivated Americans to open trade with the people there
1820s and 1830s the trail was used for trading
By the 1840s the trail was used for migration
Major Western Trails
Oregon Trail The longest and most famous trail used by
migrants 2,000 mile trail stretched from
Independence, Missouri to the farming lands of the Willamette Valley in Oregon
Treacherous geography, harsh weather, and conflict with Native Americans took the lives of 20,000 migrants
Major Western Trails
The Mormon Trail Mormons were part of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latterday Saints founded by Joseph Smith
Hostility to Mormons because of some of their beliefs forced Mormons out of New York
Brigham Young became the leader after Smith was killed – led the Mormons to an area around the Great Salt Lake in Utah
The route they followed became known as the Mormon Trail (1847-1853)
The Gold Rush
The largest single migration west was the Gold Rush
1848 – a carpenter discovered gold in the American River at John Sutter’s sawmill in northern California
Many people from all over (Asia, South America, and Europe) traveled in search of gold and the hopes of becoming rich
The Gold Rush
James K. Polk was president Made a speech
announcing the presence of gold in California
His speech was reported in newspapers around the country
Many Americans caught “gold fever”
Rush to California
Gold Rush – the mass migration to California of miners and business people who made money off the miners
Migrants who left for California in 1849 were called forty-niners
80% of those who went to California were from the US
Most followed the California Trail
Booming Cities
San Francisco 1848 had a population of 800 By 1860, 60,000 people lived there
Stockton Another booming city during the gold rush
Sacramento Became the capital of California when it
became the 31st state in 1850
Major Effects of Westward Migration
The Oregon Treaty Oregon territory had
been shared with Great Britain and the United States
James K. Polk when campaigning for presidency said 54’40 or fight! – US wanted all of the Oregon Territory
Polk wins presidency but goes back on 54’40
US gets Oregon territory up to the 49th parallel
Major Effects of Westward Migration
Communication Links – need for communication from east to west Butterfield trail – mail route from St. Louis
to San Francisco Pony Express – Mail service between
Missouri and California Telegraph linked east and west
