Westward Expansion

Setting: Time/Place Early 1800’s- 1850’s Movement of population and settlement of the acquired territories of the United States. Establishment of State and Local governments

Florida Colonies of East Florida and West Florida stay loyal to the British during the Revolutionary War. At the end of the Revolution (Treaty of Paris) Britain returns the colonies to Spain (1783) Andrew Jackson invaded the area in the Seminole Wars. U.S. tells Spain to either get control of the area or give it to the U.S. 1821: Spain gives control of East and West Florida for free (assuming 5 million dollars of debt)

Louisiana Purchase 1803 Cost: $15,000,000 (3 cents per acre) From France U.S. wanted to buy Louisiana and the Port of New Orleans France offers to sell the entire territory Doubled the size of the U.S.

Mexican-American War 1846 to 1847 Fought between the U.S. and Mexico after the U.S. annexed the Texas Territory (Mexico believed it owned the Texas Territory) Ended by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Forced the Mexican secession- the U.S. purchased the Mexican territory for $18,000,000 Established the Rio Grande River as the border between the U.S. and Mexico

Oregon-Washington Joint occupation between the British and Americans until 1846 Oregon Treaty established a border along the 49 th parallel.

Conflict Question: 1.Should the new territories added to the United States be granted statehood? 2.Should the new territories allow the institution of Slavery 3.Will the new states be slave states or free states?

Manifest Destiny Manifest Destiny is a term for the attitude prevalent during the 19th century period of American expansion that the United States not only could, but was destined to, stretch from coast to coast. This attitude helped fuel western settlement, Native American removal and war with Mexico.

John Gast, American Progress, 1872

Map of the United States, 1872

Contemporary Map of the 1816 United States

John Melish, Map of the U.S. with the contiguous British and Spanish Possessions,1816

13 Melish’s comments on his 1816 map of the United States To present the country this way was desirable... The map shows at a glance the whole extent of the United States territory from sea to sea. In tracing the probable expansion of the human race from east to west, the mind finds an agreeable resting place on its western limits. The view is complete and leaves nothing to be wished for. It also adds to the beauty and symmetry of the map. Source: John Melish. Map of the United States with the contiguous British and Spanish Possessions. Philadelphia, 1816.

U.S. Territory