Manifest Destiny, Territorial Acquisitions and Westward Expansion

Manifest Destiny

The idea that the United States had a God-given right to take over every part of North America

How did the U.S. gain the Louisiana Purchase?

The U.S. purchased it from France (for $15 million) in 1803 and it doubled the size of the U.S.

How did the U.S. acquire (get) Texas?

The U.S. annexed it from Mexico in 1845. Texas had already declared itself independent from Mexico when the US annexed it.

How did the U.S. acquire (get) Oregon?

A compromise treaty (the Oregon Treaty) was signed in 1846 splitting the land with Britain. This settled many border disputes between the US and Great Britain.

How did the U.S. acquire Alaska?

Purchased from Russia for $7.2 million in 1867.

How did the U.S. acquire Hawaii?

The sugar planters overthrew the Queen and in 1898 Hawaii was annexed (taken over) by America

How was land acquired through the Mexican Cession?

It was given to the US through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the Mexican American War.

How did the U.S. get the Gadsden Purchase (which included part of Southern Arizona and New Mexico)?

The U.S. purchased the land from Mexico in 1853 for $10 million through the Treaty of Mesilla

In general, what are the three ways that the US gained much of their western lands?

1. Through a treaty

2. Through war

3. Purchased it.

What were some positive incentives for moving west?

Gold, cheap land, more land on which to settle, more freedom, the acquisition of better land and water trade routes, better transportation

What were some negative aspects of moving west?

Tensions with other nations, tensions with Native Americans

How did the US acquire the 13 colonies?

In 1776, the colonies declared independence from Great Britain.

How did the US acquire the land just east of the Mississippi River?

The Treaty of Paris (1893) ended the American Revolutionary War. By signing this treaty, Great Britain recognized America as an independent nation and gave them the land east of the Mississippi.

How did the US acquire Florida?

This land was gained as part of a treaty with Spain (the Adam-Onis Treaty). It established a border between the US and "New Spain".

Define annex

to add an area or region to a country

What lands were acquired through the Mexican Cession?

Much of the southwestern United States, including the current states of California, Nevada, Utah and parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming.

What was life like for women in the west?

Had more job opportunities, had more legal rights (widows and others could purchase land), allowed to vote and hold political office; were still expected to get married, raise children and do domestic work.

What was life like for Native American during westward expansion?

They were forced off their land and moved onto reservations; many struggled to live in the unfamiliar area (could not farm or deal with the weather) and some fought back against the settlers.

What was life like for the African Americans during westward expansion?

Some had rights - were able to earn freedom, open their own businesses; some were enslaved; couldn't vote or defend themselves in court, not treated well

What was life like for the Asian people during westward expansion?

Most settled in California; not treated fairly, had to pay extra miners' taxes

Picture the map of Westward Expansion. Where is the Oregon territory?

The lighter orange area in the northwest

Picture the map of Westward Expansion. Where is the area gained from the Mexican cession?

The darker green area on the west coast

Picture the map of Westward Expansion. Where are the 13 colonies located?

The purple/blue-ish area on the east coast

Picture the map of Westward Expansion. Where is the Florida territory?

The dark orange area in the southeast

Picture the map of Westward Expansion. Where is the Louisiana Purchase?

The light green area in the middle of the country.

Picture the map of Westward Expansion. Where is the area gained from the Gadsden Purchase?

The brown area in the southwest

Picture the map of Westward Expansion. Where is the area gained from the Texas Annexation?

The yellow area in the south

Picture the map of Westward Expansion. Where is the area gained from Great Britain, after the Revolutionary War?

The light red area (also, the 13 colonies)

Who was Andrew Jackson?

The 7th president of the US who passed the Indian Removal Act.

What was the Indian Removal Act?

A law passed by Congress that forced the Native Americans to move west of the Mississippi River

What was the Trail of Tears?

The Native Americans' 800-mile forced march. It was dangerous and sometimes deadly.

What was the impact of the Indian Removal Act?

It opened vast areas of land to settlers who brought slaves with them, which expanded slavery.

Native Americans were moved to unfamiliar lands and did not know how to farm and survive in these areas.

Native Americans were impoverished for generations, were separated from their ancestors' burial grounds, and almost lost their culture.

What was the National Road?

the nation's first federally funded toll road that connected different states.

What is the Erie Canal?

the first canal (manmade waterway) in the United States to connect eastern and western waterways

What is the Santa Fe Trail?

a roadway that linked Independence, Missouri, with

Santa Fe (Santa Fe was an important settlement on the Mexican frontier). People traded many items on this trail.

What was the Gold Rush?

a period from when thousands of people came to California in order to search for gold; helped extend the United States from the Atlantic to the

Pacific.