Manifest Destiny

Migration and Settlement in the West

Introduction to Westward Expansion

  • Desire for Resources and Economic Opportunities

    • Access to natural and mineral resources motivated settlers.

    • Increased migration facilitated by the search for economic opportunities and religious refuge.

Motivations for Settlement

  • Greater Land Opportunities

    • Driven by the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, expanding available land.

    • Depleted soil in the Eastern states due to farming practices (e.g., tobacco) urged settlers westward.

  • Improved Travel Conditions

    • Enhanced internal infrastructure: better roads and trails.

    • Construction of railroads and canals to ease transport.

  • Economic Opportunities

    • Attracted European and Asian immigrants seeking better prospects.

    • Settlement increased in the Great Lakes region post-removal of Native Americans, focusing on mining ventures (lead and iron ore).

    • Federal government land sales aggressive and appealing to settlers.

Settlement Patterns

  • Demographics

    • Scandinavian and German immigrants gravitated toward the Midwest, establishing communities in states like Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, and Illinois.

    • Settlements formed as families sought land ownership, resulting in self-sufficient communities.

Key Migration Routes

  • Oregon Trail

    • Significant for migration to Oregon Country.

    • Webster Ashburton Treaty (1842) defined US and Canada boundaries; Oregon Treaty (1846) formalized the 49th Parallel as the border.

    • Migration involved thousands of wagon trains; typical caravan comprised 12-15 wagons journeying for 6-8 months; travel was perilous.

California Gold Rush

  • Sutter's Mill Discovery (1848)

    • Gold discovery led to rapid influx of settlers known as the "Forty-Niners," seeking wealth.

    • Participants included a mix of European, Asian, and US residents, drawn by the prospect of quick riches.

    • Resulted in lawlessness, leading to vigilante justice systems among settlers.

    • Economic opportunities flourished; businesses (ship lines, dry goods stores, hotels) adapted to meet settler needs.

Continued Expansion: Other Mineral Finds

  • Subsequent Gold and Silver Strikes

    • New regions such as Colorado (Pike’s Peak, 1858) and the Black Hills (1874) continued to attract settlers due to mineral wealth.

Religious Migration: Mormons

  • Mormon Diaspora

    • After Joseph Smith's assassination, Mormons migrated to Utah from Nauvoo, Illinois, under Brigham Young’s leadership.

    • Established community at Great Salt Lake as a refuge for practicing their faith, particularly polygamy, until it was outlawed, delaying statehood.

Settlement Characteristics

  • Family Life and Gender Roles

    • Settlers migrated as families; each member’s role was essential for the community’s success.

    • Women contributed significantly—partnering in land clearance and homesteading efforts.

    • Their roles influenced the women suffrage movement, leading to votes for women in states like Wyoming (1890).

The Concept of Manifest Destiny

  • Philosophical Underpinnings

    • Manifest Destiny: belief in a God-given mission to expand across the continent.

    • John O'Sullivan, a newspaper columnist, advocated for Texas annexation as a necessary American expansion.

    • Horace Greeley echoed similar sentiments, promoting westward relocation in his editorial writings.

Legislative and Economic Developments Post-Civil War

  • Homestead Act of 1862

    • Offered 160 acres of land for $10 to families improving the land after five years.

    • Targeted urban dwellers and immigrants, including formerly enslaved African Americans seeking land ownership in the Great Plains.

International and Diplomatic Initiatives

  • Diplomatic Engagements

    • Matthew Perry’s expedition to Japan culminated in the Treaty of Kanagawa (1854), opening trade.

    • Chinese Education Mission established; brought Chinese students to the US for education.

    • Attempts to expand US influence in Latin America faced political backlash (e.g., Austin Manifesto advocating for Cuba acquisition fell flat).

    • Filibustering efforts highlighted the civil tension related to slavery expansion; figures like William Walker exemplified these failures.

The Role of the Transcontinental Railroad

  • Pacific Railroad Act of 1862

    • Promoted construction of a transcontinental railroad linking East to West.

    • Construction involved federal subsidies; labor sourced from Civil War veterans, African Americans, European and Asian immigrants.

    • Completed in 1869 at Promontory Point, Utah, reducing coast-to-coast travel time.

    • Facilitated trade, movement of goods, and contributed to the rapid growth of towns and cities along the railroad.

    • Major hubs like St. Louis and Chicago emerged as crucial market and trade centers during this period.

Summary and Review

  • Recap of Key Learnings

    • Understanding the motivations for migration offers insight into individual and community-level factors driving westward expansion.

    • Historical images can reveal critical events in migration patterns and societal changes related to westward settlement.