1. What do you think is the artist’s point of view in the painting?2. How does the artist use light to make is point?

Aim #31: Does the idea of “Manifest Destiny” justify going to war with another nation to win new territory?

Do now! Painting analysis of “American Progress” by John Gast

What major changes occurred in America in the 1840s?

When Americans were colonists (1607-1783),

the western border was the Appalachian Mountains

After the Revolutionary War, the western border of the U.S. was the Mississippi River

Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the USA

Lewis and Clark’s exploration confirmed the economic

potential of the western territory

The growth of “King Cotton” and

commercial farming led to a desire for

more western lands

Changes in the early Antebellum era (1800-1840), encouraged westward expansion in the 1840s

Improved transportation such as canals, steamboats, & railroads

increased speed & profitability

The U.S. population grew 300%The number of U.S. states grew from 13 to 26

Western state populations exploded (Ohio’s population

grew from 50,000 to 1.5 million)

The earliest pioneers were fur traders, land speculators,

and poor farmers looking for cheap land

Soon, farmers, miners, ranchers,

and religious groups flooded West

The Oregon Trail led thousands of farmers to the fertile lands of Oregon in the 1840s

The Santa Fe Trail allowed the U.S. to sell goods to Mexico

Westward expansion brought conflict with Indians, such as the Black Hawk War, as trails disrupted hunting grounds and violated previous treaties

The Treaty of Fort Laramie created a vast Indian Territory but was repeatedly

ignored by whites expanding West

“Covered wagons dominated traffic on the Oregon Trail. The typical wagon was about 11 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 2 feet deep, with bows of hardwood supporting a

bonnet that rose about 5 feet above the wagon bed. With only one set of springs under the driver's seat and none

on the axles, nearly everyone walked along with their herds of cattle and sheep.”

“When the Trail got crowded (in 1849 and later) camping became more difficult. The biggest problem was finding

fuel for the campfires. Soon trees were scarce and there was only one alternative:

buffalo dung. No one liked collecting it, but it did burn and gave off a consistent odorless flame”

“Nearly 1 in 10 who set off on the Oregon Trail did not survive. The two biggest causes

of death were disease and accidents. The worst disease was cholera, caused by unsanitary conditions.

People in good spirits in the morning could be dead by evening. Symptoms started with an intense stomach

ache, then came diarrhea and vomiting causing dehydration. If death did not occur within the first

12 to 24 hours, the victim usually recovered”

(I) Manifest Destiny

a. Phrase coined by John L. O’Sullivan who used God, democracy and economic expansion to justify an American “destiny” (idea of American exceptionalism)1. Idea the US was destined to control the North American continent from

the Atlantic to the Pacific2. Contained racist ideas that it was acceptable to remove Native Americans and Mexicans from their land because they were holding up progress.b. Underlying reasons for Manifest Destiny2. New land: for resources and land ownership associated with wealth (land

was inexpensive)2. Western ports: access to Asian markets3. Population was increasing: natural and immigration (people felt cramped)

(II) 19th Century U.S. Territorial Expansiona. Maine1. US-Canadian border was disputed in Maine (led to Aroostook War)2. Webster-Ashburton Treaty: established clear border between Maine and Canadab. The Texas Dilemma2. (1821) Mexico gained independence from Spain and encouraged Americans

to immigrate to Texas2. “Anglos” refused to accept Mexican rules (Mexico banned slavery and stated that all migrants would have to convert to the Roman Catholic religion)3. Santa Anna overthrew the Mexican government and he declared himself dictator4. Texans, under leadership of Sam Houston, declared their independence by stating that Texas was now an independent republic

TEXAS- continued-

5. Houston applied immediately for Texas to be annexed by US6. issue: slavery – fear if Texas joins Union, Texas could turn into 5 possible slave states 7. President Tyler to annex Texas (British interested too because land is good for cotton; Tyler afraid of British rule in America)8. The Annexation of Texas• “Dark Horse” Democrat James K. Polk defeated Whig Henry Clay in the

election of 1844 (campaigned for annexation of Texas and end to our joint occupation of Oregon with Britain)

9. (1845) Texas made a state

c. Mexican-American War

1. reasons: Mexico’s disagreement over Texas’ borders and General Zachary Taylor crossing the Rio Grande led to war2. US Victory led to Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo3. US gained all of Texas the Mexican cession (present-day US southwest)4. Recognized Rio Grande as southern border of Texas5. Wilmot Proviso: during the war, bill by Penn. Congressmen to forbid slavery in any of the new territories acquired from Mexico (failed to pass Senate)d. Gadsen Purchase (1853) for a future transcontinental railroade. Oregon1. Americans wanted to end join US-British control of Oregon2. Polk supported a “54 40 or fight” campaign3. US accepted dividing Oregon along the 49 degree

f. California

1. Americans eager to compete with Mexican “rancheros” in California in the 1830s

2. (1849) gold rush led to massive influx of American, Latin American, European and Chinese gold seekers (changed California’s population, agriculture and culture)

And on a separate sheet of paper…

1. In your opinion, did the ideas of Manifest Destiny justify taking lands from the Native Americans and/or going to war with other countries to gain territory? Explain.

2. In your opinion, would the idea of Manifest Destiny justify going to war with another nation to win new territory? Why or why not?

3. How can results of the Mexican-American War be one of the causes of the Civil War?