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

Santa Fe Trail

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

Oregon Trail

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)

Mormon Trail

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 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

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