Manifest Destiny

This is the belief that expansion was right and good for the country. Take / buy land from Atlantic Ocean to Pacific Ocean.In other words, take as much land as possible for the good ol’ US of A no matter who gets in the way!

WESTWARD EXPANSION

The West is “ROMANTICIZED” or… It is made to sound much BETTER and EASIER than reality!

Why did they romanticize, or make the west sound like Heaven on earth?Ultimately, WHY did the US Government want settlers (White Americans) to move, or expand west? A. They wanted to get rid of the poor whites from the East CoastB. They thought that the Native American’s would welcome the new settlers.C.They wanted them to go to the west so they could claim the land, and take it from Russia, England, Spain, etc.D. They wanted the settlers to convert the Native American’s to Christianity.

What symbolism do you see in this famous image of Westward Expansion?

Why move west?

Rumors of gold! Thousands moved west to California to mine for gold. Gold Fever! California Gold Rush! 49ers!

Free land! Homestead Act: To those who were eligible, the U.S. gave 160 acres of land.

21 year old heads of households who agreed to build on and care for the land Adventure and escape!

Many moved simply to experience adventure and/or to escape from situations that they didn’t care for

How did they travel?Wagons!

Most families packed up their valuables and their necessities in a covered wagon

Groups of wagons called “wagon trains” often traveled together

Family members took turns riding in wagons and walking beside the wagons

Captains often led these “trains”

Where did they go?

Most pioneers left their homes in the east and headed westward to the Great Plains in the west

The Great Plains is a huge area of grassland between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains

What dangers did they face?Lack of food, water, and shelterLack of protection from the weather (floods,

storms)Lack of medical careExposure to Native Americans who felt

threatened by the presence of settlersConflict with other settlers- they sometimes were

competing for the same land and resources (water, animals, trees). Sometimes small “range wars” broke out. These were feuds between neighboring settlers.

What was life like on the prairie?

Many arrived to find huge empty areas of landBuilt homes (log or sod houses)Found sources of water and food…some lived near creeks or

rivers while others had to make windmills to pump water out of the ground

Many were miles from their nearest neighbors or trading posts…lonely

Harsh weather that they weren’t used toDifferent soil for raising crops and animals

From a prairie woman… “It might seem a cheerless life, but there were many

compensations: the thrill of conquering a new country; the wonderful atmosphere; the attraction of the prairie, which simply gets into your blood and makes you dissatisfied away from it…The pioneer spirit was continuous in our family”

Knowledge of Oregon TrailOregon Trail - People wanted to start a new life in the West

and could travel, overland, on several trails, usually starting in St. Louis, Missouri and going to west coast.

Lewis and Clark - Explorers who help navigate out west for the first time (1804 – 1806 commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson) trying to find a water route to Pacific.What “deal” allowed Lewis and Clark, AND the settlers

using the Oregon Trail to expand out west?A. The St. Louis PurchaseB. The Louisiana PurchaseC.The Gasden PurchaseD.The Black Friday Purchases

A sad part of history…

Many Native Americans were unfairly driven from the lands that they’d lived on for many, many years because the U.S. government claimed it. They were forced to move to reservations.

Herds of wild bison became nearly extinct as settlers began to use them as sources of food and shelter

Eventually…So many pioneers traveled west that…

Small cities and towns popped up in the westMany families grew as they lived in the westImmigrants moved into the west

These westward areas were eventually added as states which are much more populated today

Cheap, Fertile LandThe Eastern cities were getting crowded and people could find cheap and

sometimes FREE land in the west. The land was great for farming and still is today!

AdventureYoung men and women, usually poor, wanted to find adventure and a new life in the west. Many were running from debt, the law, or other things they did not want to deal with. Remember, this is the WILD WEST where there was very little law enforcement other than a gun.Which of the following was a REASON why settlers would want to move out west?A. The fact that they could escape English taxesB. The job opportunitiesC.They could own land, which for many would be the first

time everD.The opportunity to strike it rich in the Yukon Territories

silver mines

Slaves from the South could have a somewhat vague freedom in the new western territories because they were not officially states.

Slavery does not officially end until 1865 by President Abraham Lincoln

Freedom for Runaway Slaves

#2 Territory of the

Louisiana Purchase From

FRANCE 1803

#4 Territory TAKEN (Annexed) . from Mexico

1845

#5 Oregon Territory Treaty/given by Great Britain 1846# 6

Mexican Territory Ceded (Given up) after Mexican- . American War 1848

#3 Spanish Cession 1819

To cede (Cession, Ceded, etc.) is to

formally surrender or GIVE UP land.

Usually through a treaty or written

agreement.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA

To annex – To TAKE by force or threat of force

#1Expanded

territory of the original

13 Colonies /States1783

Which territory was added to the United States FIRST after the United States became an independent country?A. Spanish FloridaB. Oregon TerritoryC. TexasD. Louisiana Territory

Which of the following do you feel is the BEST definition for Manifest Destiny?

A. The idea that sending Lewis and Clark on their expedition was right by God.

B. The idea that removing Native Americans to reservations was a good thing to do.

C. The idea that going to war with Mexico was a bad thing, and should never have been done.

D. The idea that expanding out west, to the Pacific Ocean, was a good and right thing to do!