The United States Expands: Manifest Destiny

Louisiana Purchase Adams-Onis Treaty For $15 million President Jefferson buys Louisiana Territory from Napoleon doubles size of U.S. sends Lewis & Clark exploring U.S. acquires Florida from Spain & defines U.S. – Mexico border

Monroe Doctrine Indian Removal Act President Monroe warns Europeans to stay out of the West Important in securing our role in the Western Hemisphere We promised to stay out of affairs of Europe Allowed Federal Government to force Native Americans west Americans felt it was necessary to western expansion Led to Trail of Tears (about ¼ of Cherokee population died)

Manifest Destiny Mormon Migration Mexican- American War Belief that God wanted Americans to move west to the Pacific Even if that meant taking Mexican & Native American lands (more on this…) Escaping religious persecution Mormons migrated west Created Salt Lake City U.S. wins war & gains land U.S. pays Mexico $15 million for California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, most of Arizona, and parts of Colorado & Wyoming

The Gold Rush (Since we DO live in California!) James Marshall (bottom center) in front of Sutter’s Mill San Francisco in the 1800s

Manifest Destiny How did Americans justify Westward Expansion?

Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way, a painting influenced by the idea of Manifest Destiny

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

12 Melish’s comments on his 1816 map of the United States “To present a picture of it was desirable in every point of view. The map so constructed, shows at a glance the whole extent of the United States territory from sea to sea; and 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 [balance] of the map; which will, it is confidently believed, be found one of the most useful and ornamental [decorative] works ever executed [created] in this country.” –John Melish, 1816

Document Deconstruction With a partner, read the two document excerpts by John O’Sullivan Use your collective brains to answer the questions on your handouts

Make a Claim & Support it On the back of your handout, answer the following question using AT LEAST the historical paragraph writing components below: “How did Americans justify moving westward?” – Topic Sentence/Claim – Concrete Detail (CD: quote from source to support claim) – Commentary (CM: Explain HOW quote supports claim. “This shows that…”) – Commentary (CM: Explain MORE! “This is because…”) – CD – CM – Concluding Sentence

What do you think? This theory that Americans are special is called “American Exceptionalism.” It’s this idea that America has had such a unique history and has become so powerful that there’s something really special about it. What do you think about this theory? What do you predict this belief will lead to as we go through U.S. History?