From Sea to From Sea to Shining SeaShining Sea

Part 4Part 4

Manifest DestinyManifest Destiny

Between the early 1830s and the mid 1850s, a new political party called the “Whigs” ran in opposition against the

Democrat party of Andrew Jackson. They believed in “congressional supremacy” instead of “presidential supremacy”. “Whig” was a term used to describe

someone who was opposed to “tyranny” a word that many Whigs had used to

describe Andrew Jackson. The Whigs were pro-business, favored “modernization” of

the nation, and believed that public education was necessary for the good of

the country.

Martin Van Buren

William Henry Harrison

Hugh Lawson White

In the election of 1836, Andrew Jackson followed tradition, and did not run again. The Democrats chose his vice president,

Van Buren, to run. The Whigs were regionally divided, and lost, making Martin

Van Buren our 8th president.

The Election of 1840 The Election of 1840 “The Log Cabin Campaign”“The Log Cabin Campaign”

Tired of losing to the Democrats, the Whigs worked hard to win the

presidential election of 1840. The country had been going through an

economic depression, and many people blamed President Van Buren

for what was happening. Some people even referred to him as Martin “Van

Ruin”. The Whigs chose William Henry Harrison, “Old Tippecanoe”, who had defeated Native Americans in battle

years before.

►Many Democrats made Many Democrats made fun of William Henry fun of William Henry Harrison, and said he Harrison, and said he was “too old and was “too old and senile” to be president.senile” to be president.

► They said that if he They said that if he was given a barrel of was given a barrel of “hard” cider and his “hard” cider and his retirement money, he retirement money, he would be happy to would be happy to spend his day’s in a spend his day’s in a cabin.cabin.

► The Whigs jumped on The Whigs jumped on this, and tried to use this, and tried to use the “common man” the “common man” image.image.

► They tried to present They tried to present Van Buren as being Van Buren as being “rich and snobby”, “rich and snobby”, when in fact, it was when in fact, it was Harrison that had Harrison that had come from a wealthy come from a wealthy background.background.

►He chose a man He chose a man named John Tyler, a named John Tyler, a former Democrat, as former Democrat, as his running mate.his running mate.

►With the slogan With the slogan “Tippecanoe and “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too”, they won Tyler Too”, they won the election of 1840.the election of 1840.

William Henry William Henry HarrisonHarrison

► ““Old Tippecanoe” Old Tippecanoe” took office on March took office on March 4, 1841.4, 1841.

► The day was cold and The day was cold and wet, and Harrison did wet, and Harrison did not wear a hat or not wear a hat or overcoat.overcoat.

► He spoke for over an He spoke for over an hour and a half—the hour and a half—the longest inauguration longest inauguration speech in history.speech in history.

► Later in the month, Later in the month, he developed a nasty he developed a nasty cold, and died on cold, and died on April 4April 4thth..

► John Tyler our 9John Tyler our 9thth president, became the president, became the first vice president to first vice president to assume office on the assume office on the death of a president.death of a president.

► Although a Whig, he Although a Whig, he went against many went against many wishes of the party, wishes of the party, and they kicked him and they kicked him out!out!

► The Democrats didn’t The Democrats didn’t want him either.want him either.

► He became known as a He became known as a “lame duck”, or a “lame duck”, or a leader who can’t get leader who can’t get much done. much done.

Manifest DestinyManifest Destiny►““Manifest”– Manifest”–

Something that is Something that is clear or obvious.clear or obvious.

►““Destiny”– Destiny”– Something that is Something that is going to happen.going to happen.

As the 1840s progressed many people began to believe in an idea called “Manifest Destiny”. It was the belief that the United States was destined to stretch all the way

to the Pacific Ocean or “From Sea to Shining Sea”.

As early as 1819, future President John Quincy Adams stated:

“The world has to accept the idea of…the continent of North America as our proper dominion. From the time we became an independent nation, it was as much a law of nature that this would become our claim as that the Mississippi should flow to the sea.”

By the 1830s and 1840s, many Americans began looking toward New Mexico and California with great interest.

The entire Southwest once belonged to Mexico. This huge territory

included all, or parts of the following modern-day states:

Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado. The capital

was Santa Fe.

Much of the American Southwest is hot and dry. There are also desert and mountainous areas as well.

Before the Spanish came, some Native Americans had success with irrigation,

while others hunted. The Spanish settled part of the area, and built Santa Fe, which is located in the

current state of New Mexico. It grew into a busy trading town, but the Spanish refused to let Americans

settle in New Mexico.

Santa Fe is one of the oldest cities in the U. S.

►After winning its independence from Spain, After winning its independence from Spain, Mexico allowed Americans into the territory.Mexico allowed Americans into the territory.

►William Becknell was the first American to head William Becknell was the first American to head to Santa Fe. He led a group of traders from to Santa Fe. He led a group of traders from Missouri.Missouri.

► The Mexicans were eager to trade and buy their The Mexicans were eager to trade and buy their goods. Other Americans followed.goods. Other Americans followed.

► The “Santa Fe Trail” was developed as a trade The “Santa Fe Trail” was developed as a trade route in the 1820s.route in the 1820s.

CaliforniaCaliforniaBy the 1840’s, Mexico was in control of

California. The Spanish had actually been there 100 years before the English had set up their colonies along the Atlantic Coast. California has large mountain ranges and

fertile valleys to raise crops. Northern California receives a lot of rain, while

Southern California is much drier. For most of the year, and in most parts, California

enjoys mild temperatures.

Spanish priests and soldiers built a series of missions and settlements up and down the coast of California. The natives of the

region put up little resistance as the Spanish forced them to work for the

missions, and to learn more about the Catholic faith. At times life was rough for them, and many died from overwork, and disease. Conditions even worsened when Mexico got its independence. Ranchers

often cruelly mistreated the Indians. Their population dropped to just about 100,000

by 1850.

Spanish Missions in CaliforniaSpanish Missions in California

Mormons Seek Refuge in Mormons Seek Refuge in UtahUtah

The largest single group of settlers to move into Mexican territory, were

members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—given the nickname “Mormons”. Their church was founded

in 1830 by a man named Joseph Smith in upstate New York. The church attracted

many followers, but not without some controversy.

Troubles With Troubles With NeighborsNeighbors

►Mormons at first believed property should be Mormons at first believed property should be owned as a group. Some Mormons also were owned as a group. Some Mormons also were involved in polygamy—having more than 1 involved in polygamy—having more than 1 wife.wife.

►Mormons had to move around frequently, and Mormons had to move around frequently, and they moved from New York, to Ohio, then on they moved from New York, to Ohio, then on to Missouri.to Missouri.

► In Missouri they were especially hated, In Missouri they were especially hated, because they frequently voted the same way. because they frequently voted the same way. Most were Northerners and were anti-slavery. Most were Northerners and were anti-slavery. Missourians worried that they would take over.Missourians worried that they would take over.

The Mormons were forced to moveThe Mormons were forced to moveseveral different times.several different times.

►Under an “extermination” order from Under an “extermination” order from Missouri’s governor, the Mormons were Missouri’s governor, the Mormons were driven from the state, and then set up a driven from the state, and then set up a community they built in a swampy area in community they built in a swampy area in Illinois along the Mississippi River. Their city Illinois along the Mississippi River. Their city was called Nauvoo.was called Nauvoo.

►Problems again developed between their Problems again developed between their neighbors, and in June of 1844, Joseph Smith neighbors, and in June of 1844, Joseph Smith was killed by a mob. Brigham Young, their was killed by a mob. Brigham Young, their new leader, decided to move them to the new leader, decided to move them to the Rocky Mountains, which at that time, Rocky Mountains, which at that time, WAS WAS NOT NOT in the United States.in the United States.

The Mormon city of Nauvoo grew rapidly, and

at one time rivaled Chicago as the biggest city

in the state of Illinois.

The Mormons were again kicked

out of a place they had settled, when they began to leave Nauvoo in the winter of

1846.

A Difficult A Difficult JourneyJourney

The Mormons were forced out of Nauvoo while it was still winter in 1846. They faced a large challenge in moving 15,000 people

across the continent. Many of them camped the next winter along the Missouri River in Nebraska. In 1847, the Mormons

entered the Salt Lake Valley. In the ensuing years, thousands of Mormon

pioneers came to Salt Lake City in covered wagons and in handcarts.

Mormons Prosper in the DesertMormons Prosper in the Desert►Salt Lake City grew rapidly as a Salt Lake City grew rapidly as a

settlement.settlement.►Like other settlers in America, the Like other settlers in America, the

Mormons took over land from Native Mormons took over land from Native Americans, although some Mormons Americans, although some Mormons practiced a “Feed Not Fight” policy.practiced a “Feed Not Fight” policy.

►They used irrigation to grow crops.They used irrigation to grow crops.►Brigham Young became the first governor Brigham Young became the first governor

of the territory.of the territory.►Salt Lake City became a major stopping Salt Lake City became a major stopping

point for travelers throughout the West.point for travelers throughout the West.

The Salt Lake Valley as seen from space.