Transcript manifest destiny lecture

Manifest Destiny
EQ: What is Manifest Destiny? And what are
examples of the influence of manifest
destiny on America’s westward expansion in
the Antebellum Period?
Goals of James K. Polk
• Lower the tariff
• National Expansion:
• MANIFEST DESTINY – Expansion into Oregon
– “54o 40’, or Fight!” threat to England
• Annexation of Texas
• Acquisition of CA
Manifest Destiny
Belief that it was America’s God-given destiny to expand westward and
conquer and civilize the entire continent. Term coined by John O’Sullivan
in 1845
Forces behind Manifest Destiny
– Built upon belief of white superiority
-Population increase
-Rapid Economic Development
-Technological Advances
Western expansion been going on for some time
 • Louisiana Purchase (1803)
 Missouri Compromise 1820
Jackson’s Indian Removal policies in 1830s
Issue of slavery complicates the issue of western expansion
Manifest Destiny in Action
The Texas Issue
Settled by slaveholding Americans since 1823
Led by Stephen F. Austin & Sam Houston
Attracted settlers with cheap land & tax exemptions
Texan settlers clashed with Mexican government over
slavery & autonomy
Texan settlers eventually (after the Alamo) defeated
Mexican army & declared their independence in 1836
Expansionists called for Texas’ admission to the union
BUT Senate balanced at 13 free & 13 slave
Manifest Destiny in Action
The Oregon Dispute “54’40 or Fight!”
Adam-Onis Treaty: U.S. and
England agreed to peacefully
jointly occupy Oregon territory
Oregon Trail: Many American
settlers flood into the area
Major issue in the Election of
1844
 Oregon Treaty 1846:
49th parallel, No war needed
Oregon added as free territory,
Texas added as slave
Manifest Destiny in Action
Beef With Mexico
Mexico still viewed Texas as part of Mexico –
Dispute over river Rio Grande & Nueces river
Polk attempts to buy California from Mexico –
Slidell Mission: Mexico refuses offer of
$25 million for CA
Polk sends Zachary Taylor into disputed territory
between Mexico and Texas – U.S. forces attacked
in April 1846
Mexican American War begins: 1846-1848
Controversy
Northern Whigs oppose the war
• See it as an attempt by Southerners to extend
slavery
– Lincoln introduces the “Spot Resolution”
demanding to know if attack really took place on
U.S. soil
– Wilmot Proviso: attempted to ban slavery in any
territory acquired from Mexico
• Passed by House, rejected by Senate
New Controversies
(or return of old?)
New territories were
brought into the Union
which forced the issue of
slavery into the center of
national politics!
Primary Source Analysis
John O’Sullivan
• – Writer/editor of the Democratic Review, a
well-known newspaper around the time of the
Mexican-American war
• – Most people give him the credit for coining
the term “Manifest Destiny”
• Read & annotate:
– “The Great Nation of Futurity,” 1839 –
“Annexation,” 184
John O’Sullivan, "The Great Nation of Futurity," 1839
1.What does O’Sullivan think America stands for?
2. What, according to O’Sullivan, is America’s mission?
John O’Sullivan, “Annexation,” July 1845
1. What does O’Sullivan mean by “our manifest destiny to
overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the
free development of our yearly multiplying millions”?
2. Based on these two documents, how did Americans
feel about expanding westward?
Discussion/Review Questions
1. How does Manifest Destiny connect to the
idea of American exceptionalism?
2. Are you surprised by the reasons that
O’Sullivan gives for expansion?
3. Do you think he really believes that God
wants Americans to expand?