1. Manifest Destiny
Chapter 6, Section 1

2. 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

3. “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

5. 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.”

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Santa Fe Trail

10. 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

11. Oregon Trail

12. 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 ( )

13. Mormon Trail

14. 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

15. 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”

16. 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

17. Booming Cities San Francisco Stockton Sacramento
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

18. 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

19. 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