1. Manifest Destiny

2. The term manifest destiny originated in the 1840s
This expansion would involve not merely territorial aggrandizement but the progress of liberty and individual economic opportunity as well.

3. The Original Thirteen Colonies
Settled by the English
Independence won through the American Revolution-1775–1783
Differing geographic regions gave rise to different economic systems… the beginning of the Civil War

4. The Northwest Ordinance (1787)
Temporary forbidden by the Proclamation of 1763
Contained provisions for the advancement of education, the maintenance of civil liberties and the exclusion of slavery
Accelerated the westward expansion of the United States

5. A portion of eastern North America; the 1763 "proclamation line" is the border between the red and the pink areas

6. Florida Spanish territory
Controversy: West Florida declares independence from Spain; Seminole attacks and runaway slaves
John Q. Adams takes advantage of Andrew Jackson’s aggressive military actions to acquire Florida from Spain

7. The Louisiana Purchase (1803)
Challenged Jefferson’s strict interpretation of the Constitution… justified with presidential power to make treaties
More than doubled size of US
Control port of New Orleans = control trade up and down the Mississippi River
Future controversy: slave state vs. free state

8. Purchased for $15,000,000
Its population was around 60,000 inhabitants, of whom half were colored

9. The Oregon Territory
Originally Spain, Great Britain, Russia, and the United States claimed the territory
The border of the Oregon Territory unsettled between the US and Great Britain
1843 marked increased American immigration on the Oregon Trail to the Territory
Polk settled the boundary of the Oregon Territory on the 49 degree line

10. Oregon Territory, as originally organized, in 1848
Oregon Territory (blue) with Washington Territory (green) in 1853
State of Oregon (blue) with Washington Territory (green) in 1859

11. Texas
Texas declares independence from Mexico and requested annexation by the US
Refused: did not want to start war with Mexico; Texas as a slave state
Annexed in 1845 thereby increasing tensions with Mexico over the southern border of Texas

12. Mexican Cession
Disputes over southern border of Texas resulted in the Mexican-American war
War ended with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, granting the US approximately 525,000 square miles
Multi-million dollar question: slave state or free state

13. Gadsden Purchase (1854)
An agreement between the United States and Mexico
Provided the land necessary for a southern transcontinental railroad and attempted to resolve conflicts that lingered after the Mexican-American War
Last piece of mainland USA = transcontinental power!