Manifest Destiny

List the reasons FOR & AGAINST

Westward Expansion “It is America’s right to stretch from sea to shining sea. Not only do we have a responsibility to our citizens to gain valuable natural resources we also have a responsibility to civilize this beautiful land.”

Manifest Destiny More blood on the hands of Christ They call themselves Christians And gave themselves the rights Disguised as missionaries They were really after gold Many Indians died for that How many never told – DRI lyrics

Definition

•  idea known as "Manifest Destiny" swept America during the 19th century

• promoted the belief that the US had a divine mission (God given destiny) to spread from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast, opening the continent to American Settlement

www.nps.org

Background • Mexico owned Texas • Location: SW from Louisiana to the Rio

Grande & W to the foothills of the Rocky Mts.

• When Mexico broke from Spain 1821 – sought migrants to develop Texas provided they become Catholic & follow Mexican law – Result: failed to become Catholic and American

settlers outnumbered Mexicans 10:1

Lone Star Republic Timeline

• 1835 – Gonzales = the “Lexington of Texas”

• 1836 – Battle of the Alamo (Spanish

missionary to convert “Indians”): 3000 Mexicans kill 200 Texans; 13 day siege

– San Jacinto = “the Yorktown of Texas”

1836: Texas Independence

Denied Statehood at first…

Northern opposition to adding more slave territory

Feared admission of Texas as state would lead to WAR with Mexico

But…principle of Manifest Destiny won out… Texas becomes a state in 1845 & …

MEXICO THREATENS WAR!

Mexican/US Dispute •  Southern boundary: Mexico claimed it was the

Nueces River; US claimed it was the Rio Grande •  1846:

– Mexican soldiers crossed the Rio Grande & attacked a small US cavalry

– Congress declares WAR –  Lincoln challenged President Polk’s

statement that American blood had been spilled on American soil – Lincoln invited him to point out the spot!

Nueces River

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

• Terms – US gains full right to Texas with Rio Grande

boundary line – Gained CA (US paid $5 million) & NM

territory (present day AZ, UT, NV, CO) – Gadsden Purchase (1853) US acquired

southern portion of NM for $10 – completed US expansion across the continent

1846: “54,40 or fight” = willing to fight Britain for Oregon; we compromised (49 degrees latitude)

Show They Might Be Giants Video