The Costs of Manifest Destiny Does anyone have a pen?

What is Manifest Destiny? * A belief that the United States had the right to rule the entire continent * Expansion of US power from the Atlantic to the Pacific * Examples - Texas - Mexican Cession - California Goldrush

Lincoln’s Manifest Destiny * Homestead Act of 1862 - Incentive to settle the Great Plains area - 160 acres - If you agree to work the land for 5 years, you get to own the land- no cost

“Go West Young Man, Go West!” Horace Greeley 1867

Trans-Continental Railroad Completed at Promontory Point, Utah in 1869 Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads Trans- Continental- * Definition- the first coast to coast railroad network * Cut down travel time from San Francisco to New York City from 4 months to 10 days Last stake made of GOLD * US Government helped finance through land grants

Positive Aspects of Expansion * Improved economic opportunities for average Americans * Increased wealth of United States *Allowed for technological advancements to occur * Helped the nation become larger in size, power and world prestige

Wait a minute!!! Don’t people already live in the Great Plains? (modern day mid-west) How would you handle an American Indian land claim if you were?… An American Indian Chief? President Grant? Owner of the Central Pacific Railroad? Average American looking to take advantage of the Homestead Act?

Negative Impact of Expansion A Closer Look at the “Dark Side”

Treaties * By 1800’s, the US had created a legacy of broken treaties with the Iroquois, Cherokee, Nez Perces and many other nations. * Book- Century of Dishonor by Helen Hunt Jackson *Story of Red Cloud and the Treaty of Fort Laramie “Many, if not most, of our Indian wars have had their origin in broken promises and acts of injustice upon our part.” President Rutherford B. Hayes Red Cloud

The Treaty of Fort Laramie Red Cloud and the treaty of Fort Laramie He was the Chief of the Oglala Sioux, Red Cloud was known for his feats of courage, and he attracted followers from other tribes in addition to his own. He led the fight against the U.S. government's plan to open the Bozeman Trail.

Can you find these States?

Would this be the end of the land conflicts? Absolutely Not! The proposed trail and its forts cut right through a vital Sioux hunting ground just east of the Bighorn Mountains in South Dakota. For two years, Red Cloud mounted attacks against the project, among them the Fetterman Massacre of 1866, one of the most severe. He and his followers were successful, and the government abandoned the trail after signing the Treaty of Fort Laramie in 1868.

Gold was Discovered!

Wars Through a series of Indian Wars in the 1870’s and ending at Wounded Knee in 1890, the West was won. The Sioux Black Hills, South Dakota General Custer Little Big Horn Legend of Crazy Horse The Apache Last of the major Indian resistance Geronimo’s surrender in Arizona

Reservations * The Dawes Act- 1887 The Americanization of the American Indian A promise of ownership and citizenship after 25 years A promise gone un-kept until the 1930s * The growth of poverty- unfertile land, lack of job opportunity, land repossession by US Government

The Buffalo * The buffalo were essential to the Indians of the Great Plains * Native Americans used all parts of the buffalo- jewelry, hides, hoofs, rattles

Slaughter of Buffalo Buffalo slaughtered by the thousands Some buffalos shot from train- reductions given to ticket price 15 million buffalo in 1865….34 in 1903! 9 million buffalo slaughtered between 1872 and 1874

Chief Joseph “I will fight no more” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YftdIU1zago

Points of Discussion How did the Government encourage Manifest Destiny? How did Westward expansion change American Society? Describe the impact Manifest Destiny had on the American Indian. How can we, the Government and American Indians aid in the final healing process? Should American Indians have special rights today for past injustices?

Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee: What Can We Learn? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFqbyvgAkPY&NR=1

American Indian History Timeline http://archive.itvs.org/homeland/timeline.html