Manifest Destiny: From Manifest Destiny: From Sea to Shining SeaSea to Shining Sea

Libertyville High SchoolLibertyville High School

“A God given right, to spread American institutions across the continent of North America from the Atlantic to the Pacific and, perhaps, beyond.”

John L. O’Sullivan

““Manifest Destiny”Manifest Destiny”• Belief that the US was

destined to expand from the Atlantic to the Pacific

• Also used to advocate for or justify other territorial acquisitions

• Phrase "Manifest Destiny" was first used by Jackson Democrats after 1845 to promote annexation of Western United States– Texas– Oregon Territory– Mexico Cession (CA, etc)

“American Progress” (study picture: What do you see suggesting US

progress?)

Tyler’s Presidency• Lifelong Democrat, but

chosen as VP for Whigs• Established concept of

presidential succession– Constitution vague– Legitimacy questioned

• Opposed entire Whig congressional plan!– After vetoing third BUS,

expelled from party

Election of 1844• Manifest destiny drove

election– Texas Annexation– Oregon Territory

• James Polk (TN) – D– To avoid pro-slavery charges in

TX support, demanded acquisition of Oregon Country

• Henry Clay (KY) – W• James Birney (NY) – Liberty

Party (abolitionists)

Polk: 170 ECV / 1,337,243Clay: 105 ECV / 1,299,062Birney: 0 ECV / 62,300

James K. Polk• Born in NC, but moved to

and represented TN• Supporter of Andrew

Jackson in Congress– Preferred gold, silver to

paper money– Proposed abolishing

electoral college– Opposed Second BUS– Nicknamed “Young Hickory”

• Promised to serve 1 term

Polk’s Administration• Last “strong” pre Civil War

President• Polk’s Program

– Acquire all (or some) of the Oregon Country

– Re-establish independent Treasury system

– Reduce tariffs (down to 25% from 1842 tariff’s 37%)

– Purchase CA from Mexico

Polk InaugurationCartoon attacking tariff

Oregon Country• Oregon claimed by four

countries– Spain (relinquished claims

in Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819)

– Russia (withdrew claims up to 54˚40’ in 1824

– US, UK• 10 year joint

occupation, 1818-1828• Renewed indefinitely,

1828• MUTUALLY STRONG

CLAIMS TO OREGON COUNTRY! Oregon Country – disputed claims

Oregon Country

• US claims vs. UK claims– Captain James Cook, 1778– Captain Robert Grey, 1792– Robert McKenzie, 1806– Lewis & Clark, 1806– Northwest Company (Hudson Bay Company):

1821 John McLoughlin (20 years)– Rocky Mountain Fur Company / American Fur

Company, 1808: John Jacob Astor

Oregon Country• American missionaries tipped

scale (Catholic and Protestant)– Rev. Jason Lee – 1st school, town– Rev. Dr. Marcus Whitman – blazed

OR Trail– Father Pierre Jean de Smet –

Jesuit who est. missions among NA• Missionaries sent glowing

reports about Oregon back East– Oregon trail est. 1841; over next 25

years, up to 650k settlers followed, destined for CA (1/3), OR (1/3), & UT, CO, MT (last 1/3)

– “Oregon Fever”, 1843– Rev. Lee est. Territorial Gov’t, asks

for annexation, 1844– Polk set about acquisition after

election

WhitmanLee

Lee’s Mission in Williamette

De Smet

Acquisition of Oregon Country• Oregon Treaty,

1846– Divide OC along 49th

Parallel– Brits get all of

Vancouver Island– Border exists today

(northern border of Washington, Idaho, Montana)

California

• Territory added, 1848• Gold discovered near

Sacramento, 1848• “Gold Rush” of 1849

– “49ers”– Clipper ships brought

49ers around Cape Horn or via Panama

– Overland routes, too (Donner Party)

• CA became state, 1850

Mormons & the Settlement of Utah• Joseph Smith –

founder of “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints” (Mormons)

• Moved from NY to OH, to MO, then IL before heading West

Joseph Smith

Mormons & the Settlement of Utah• Mormons were terribly

persecuted, discriminated against

• Smith was controversial– Preached new religion– Declared candidacy for

President, set up shadow gov’t – Introduced idea of plural

marriage (polygamy)• Murdered in Carthage, Illinois

while in jail• Succeeded by Brigham

Young

Carthage Jail, where Smith was murdered

Brigham Young

Mormons & the Settlement of Utah• Young took Mormons

on “the Great Trek” into the desert

• Founded Salt Lake City in 1847

• By 1850, UT had territorial status

• Proved that people could live in SW desert