Westward Expansion and Manifest Destiny

Westward Expansion

• Westward expansion was a significant part of American identity in the 19th century.
• The concept of expanding westward was considered essential.

Manifest Destiny

• Definition: The belief that Americans had a God-given right to expand and possess the entire continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans.
• Origin: The term "Manifest Destiny" was coined by John O'Sullivan, a newspaper editor, in July 1845.
• Justification: O'Sullivan argued that Providence (God) had granted Americans the right to possess the continent for the development of liberty and self-government.

Practical Reasons for Westward Expansion

• Access to Resources:
  • Americans sought mineral and natural resources.
  • The California Gold Rush of 1848 spurred migration after the discovery of gold.
  • Gold and silver discoveries in Colorado, the Dakotas, and Nevada further incentivized westward migration.
• Economic and Homesteading Opportunities:
  • The Preemption Acts of the 1830s and 1840s made land available at low prices.
  • This allowed people to set up homesteads and farms.
  • Largely, the middle class took advantage of these opportunities due to the cost of moving west.
• Religious Refuge:
  • Groups like the Mormons sought refuge from persecution.
  • The Mormons, fleeing persecution for their practice of polygamy, migrated to the Utah Territory.
  • Approximately 70,000 Mormons migrated to Utah over two decades.

Political Manifestations

• The concept of Manifest Destiny influenced political decisions, notably during the election of James K. Polk in 1844.
• Polk, a firm believer in Manifest Destiny, aimed to annex Texas and Oregon.

Texas Annexation

• American Settlement:
  • Americans had been settling in Texas since the 1820s, when the territory still belonged to Mexico.
  • By 1830, Americans outnumbered Mexicans in Texas three to one.
  • Most American settlers were Southern, Protestant, and pro-slavery.
• Mexican Laws:
  • In 1829, the Mexican government required immigrants to convert to Roman Catholicism and outlawed slavery.
  • American settlers largely ignored these laws.
  • Mexico closed the border to further immigration in response.
• Texas Revolution:
  • In 1834, a new Mexican dictator sought to enforce the laws.
  • Texans, led by Sam Houston, revolted and declared Texas an independent republic in 1836.
  • The Mexican army won a significant victory at the Alamo, killing all American defenders.
  • Houston's army retaliated by capturing a Mexican general at the Battle of San Jacinto.
  • The captured general was forced to sign a treaty granting Texas independence, though the Mexican government disputed the treaty's validity.
• Statehood Complications:
  • Mexico did not recognize Texas's independence.
  • Presidents Jackson and Van Buren declined to annex Texas due to the risk of war with Mexico.
  • President John Tyler attempted annexation, but the Senate denied it.

Oregon Territory

• Competing Claims:
  • Both the British and Americans claimed the Oregon Territory.
  • The British based their claim on a profitable fur trade and longer-term settlement.
  • Americans based their claim on a desire for the territory and the increasing number of American missionaries and farmers settling there.
• Resolution:
  • James K. Polk, as a proponent of Manifest Destiny, sought to annex both Oregon and Texas.
  • John Tyler initiated the annexation of Texas during his final months in office.
  • Polk's administration reached an agreement with the British to divide the Oregon Territory at the 49th parallel.
  • The Senate ratified this treaty.