Manifest Destiny was the belief that the United States was destined to expand its territory from coast to coast. Between 1776 and 1848, the US expanded its territory through independence from Britain, purchases such as the Louisiana Purchase, annexing territories like Texas, and victories in wars against Mexico. This expansion was driven by the belief in Manifest Destiny and the desire for more land and resources. Key events included the Oregon Treaty settling borders with Britain, the Mexican-American War resulting in large territorial gains from Mexico, and the California Gold Rush bringing a flood of settlers to the West Coast.

1. Manifest Destiny
Map of United States Circa 1830

2. 2
What is Manifest Destiny?
American Progress Color Lithograph
by George A. Crofutt and John Gast

3. 3
What is “Manifest Destiny”
•Belief that the US should expand its territory
from coast to coast

4. 4
US Territorial Expansion
A
When?
From Where?
Why?
•1776
•Great Britain
•US declared
independence
from Great
Britain
A - 13 Original
Colonies

5. 5
US Territorial Expansion
A
When?
From Where?
Why?
•1783
•Great Britain
•Part of
results of
Treaty of
Paris (ended
Revolutionary
War)
B
B - Western Lands

6. 6
US Territorial Expansion
A
When?
From Where?
Why?
•1803
•France
•Napoleon
needed $
•Jefferson
wanted to buy
New Orleans
•He got all of
this instead!
B
C - Louisiana
Purchase
C

7. 7
US Territorial Expansion
A
When?
From Where?
Why?
•1819
•Spain
•Andrew
Jackson
invaded
•Spain then
sold it to us
for $5 million
B
D - Florida
D
C

8. 8
Thinking Question
(don’t write this down!! Just think!)
Why weren’t Americans happy with
the size of their country at this
point in their history?

9. 9

10. 10
Mr. Manifest Destiny
James K. Polk
•Elected President
in 1844
•Added more
territory to the US
(by any means)
than any other
President
•Died 103 days
after his single
term ended

11. 11
US Territorial Expansion
A
When?
From Where?
Why?
•1845
•Republic of Texas (Independent Country)
•Texas
independent from
Mexico in 1836
•Northerners
feared it would
become a slave
state
•Fears finally
overcome in 1944
Presidential
election
B
E - Texas
D
C
E

12. 12
US Territorial Expansion
A
When?
From Where?
Why?
•1846
•Great Britain
•Claimed by four
countries (G.
Britain, Russia,
Spain, & US)
•Americans
demanded “54° 40’
or fight!”
•Britain
compromised 49°
& US accepted
B
F - Oregon Territory
D
C
E
F

13. 13

14. 14

15. 15

16. The Oregon Trail
 Used by 400K settlers, ranchers, farmers
 Made popular after 1846
 Faded by 1869 w/ completion of the
Transcontinental RR
 2,200 miles long; 4-6 months total; 15
miles/day
 Thousands died along the way; disease
was number one cause
16

17. 17
US Territorial Expansion
A
When?
From Where?
Why?
•1848
•Mexico
•Polk offers to buy
G from Mexico &
they refuse
•War!
•US wins
•In Treaty of
Guadalupe
Hidalgo, US offers
$15 million for G
B
G - Mexican Cession
D
C
E
F
G

18. 18

19. California Gold Rush
 Gold first found in 1848
 Rush started in 1849; “49ers”
 CA becomes a state in 1850; Compromise
of 1850
 San Francisco’s population in 1846=200;
1852=30K
 Roughly 300K came to CA as part of Gold
Rush
19

20. 20
Discussion Question
(Don’t write!! Just think!)
Why does the U.S. keep offering countries
money for territories we gain through war (Ex.
Florida and Mexico)?