Manifest Destiny was the belief in the 1800s that the United States was destined to expand across North America to the Pacific Ocean. From 1803 to 1853, the U.S. more than doubled in size through various territorial acquisitions like the Louisiana Purchase, annexation of Texas, and war with Mexico, gaining control of land stretching from coast to coast. This westward expansion was driven by both the desire to spread democracy and economic opportunities like the California Gold Rush of 1849.

1. Manifest Destiny
1803-1853
The United States Expanded from the
Atlantic to the Pacific
in 50 years

2. Manifest Destiny
A belief shared by many
Americans in the mid 1800s
that the United States should
expand across the continent
to the Pacific Ocean.
President Polk believed it was
our manifest destiny, or
“obvious fate” to settle land
all the way to the Pacific
Ocean in order to spread
democracy.

3. Louisiana Purchase: 1803
Thomas Jefferson bought the
Louisiana Territory from France for
$15 million.
Jefferson wanted to make sure the
U.S. had control of the Port of New
Orleans and the Mississippi River.
The Louisiana Purchase doubled
the size of the United States.
The U.S. stretched from the Atlantic
Ocean to the Rocky Mountains.

4. Florida: 1819
The U.S. wanted to take Florida from
Spain because of attacks by
Seminole Indians and runaway
slaves in Georgia.
In 1819, President Monroe sent
General Andrew Jackson to Florida
to help protect the U.S. border.
Jackson invaded Florida and
overthrew the governor of Florida.
He had no direct orders from
President Monroe.
Spain gave Florida to the U.S. in
exchange for $5 million and control
of Texas.

5. Texas: 1830s
In 1821, Texas was a part of Mexico.
Stephen Austin was an empresario = agent
to bring settlers to Texas.
Stephen Austin brought the first 300 families
to Texas - known as the Old Three Hundred.
By 1830, 25,000 Americans were living in
Texas. They were required to become
Mexican citizens and become Catholic.
The Americans had to follow Mexican law.
When Americans complained, Mexico closed
Texas to further American immigration.
Stephen Austin

6. Texas Revolution: 1835-36
After Mexico closed Texas to Americans, Stephen
Austin went to negotiate with the Mexican leader,
Antonio López de Santa Anna.
Austin was jailed, and the Texans revolted.
In February 23- March 6, 1836, Mexico attacked
the Texans at the Alamo. This 13-day siege
resulted in the killing of all the Americans (except
some women, children and slaves).
In April, the Mexican army massacred the Texan
rebels at Goliad.
After the Alamo and Goliad, Sam Houston surprise
attacked Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto.
“Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!”
Texas won its independence.
Antonio Lopez
de Santa Anna

7. Texas Statehood: 1845
Santa Anna was captured and forced to sign
a treaty giving Texas its independence.
Texas became an independent nation in
1836 called the Lone Star Republic.
Sam Houston became President.
Annexation of Texas was delayed:
Worry that adding Texas as a slave
state would upset the balance between
free and slave states
Fear that annexing Texas would lead to
war with Mexico
Texas joined the U.S. and became the 28th
state in 1845.
Sam Houston

8. Oregon Country: 1846
In 1820, both the U.S. and Britain
claimed to own Oregon Country.
In the 1830s and 1840s, thousands of
American pioneers were going west to
settle in Oregon Country.
President Polk wanted all of Oregon to
the fifty-four fifty parallel. The American
people cried, “Fifty-four forty or fight.”
Neither Polk nor Britain wanted war.
Britain and the U.S. compromised.
They split Oregon in half at the 49th
parallel. The U.S. got the southern half.

9. War with Mexico: 1846-48
President Polk wanted to expand the U.S. territory
clear to the Pacific Ocean.
He offered to buy California and New Mexico
territories from Mexico for $30 million. Mexico
refused.
After the U.S. annexed Texas in 1845, Mexico and
the U.S. disagreed on the Texas border
The U.S. claimed the Rio Grande River.
Mexico claimed the Nueces River.
The U.S. sent troops to patrol the border.
Conflict broke out and the Mexican army killed
U.S. troops on “disputed land.”
Polk declared war, claiming Mexico spilled
American blood on American land.

10. War with Mexico: 1846-48
The U.S. Army had better weapons and
equipment, but it was greatly outnumbered
by the Mexican forces and was poorly
prepared.
The U.S. took New Mexico territory without
a fight and claimed the territory.
Zachary Taylor defeats Santa Anna at the
Battle of Buena Vista.
U.S. troops under Winfred Scott (“old fuss
and feathers”) capture Mexico City.
This led to the Treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo, which ended the war.
Battle of Buena Vista

11. Bear Flag Revolt: 1846
Small group of American settlers seized the
town of Sonoma.
Americans declared California an
independent nation and made a grizzly bear
flag.
John C. Fremont was leading a mapping
expedition in the Sierra Nevadas. He joined
the American settlers in their revolt against
the Californios.
Shortly after, U.S. naval forces came ashore
in California and raised the stars and
stripes. They claimed California for the
United States.

12. Mexican Cession: 1848
In the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo,
Mexico gave the U.S. the territories of
California, Nevada and Utah, most of
Arizona and New Mexico, and parts of
Colorado and Wyoming.
The US also claimed Texas north of
the Rio Grande
The U.S. paid $15 million for the
territory
Today this is the American southwest.
Mexican Cession increased the size of
the US by 25%

13. Gadsden Purchase: 1853
After the war with Mexico,
Americans wanted to guarantee
that any southern railroad to
California would be built
completely on American soil.
US paid $10 million for the
southern parts of Arizona and
New Mexico.
The existing boundary between
the U.S. and Mexico was fixed.

14. Donner Party: 1846
Settlers bound for California took a southern
route known as the California Trail. This
path went through the Sierra Nevada
mountain range. Settlers tried to cross the
mountains before the first snow.
Guidebooks helped pioneers find their way.
Lansford Hastings wrote the “Emigrants
Guide to Oregon and California.” Hastings’
guide advertised a new shortcut that would
save 300-400 miles. Hastings had never
traveled the route himself.
Following Hastings’ guide and shortcut, The
Donner Party left the California trail and got
lost. They were trapped in the Sierra
Nevada in winter. They were stuck without
food and resorted to eating the dead to
survive. 42 of 87 died.

15. California Gold Rush: 1849
Gold was found in Sutter’s Mill in
1848.
In 1849, about 80,000 gold seekers,
known as forty-niners, came to
California hoping to strike it rich.
Panning for gold was the simplest
method.
A miner fills a pan with dirt. He
then puts the pan under water
and shakes it until any gold
settles on the bottom.
Sutter’s Mill

16. California Gold Rush: 1849
Mining camps sprung up whenever enough people gathered to look for gold.
At the mining camps, many people prospected (searched for gold). Others ran
businesses that catered to the miners - laundry, food, innkeepers, legal
services, supplies
Famine and
economic hardship in
China brought many
Chinese to
California. However,
they faced
discrimination and a
high tax on foreign
miners.

17. Impact of Gold Rush
The arrival of 49ers created a
population boom
Immigration increased diversity of
population
California became a state in 1 year
Growth of new businesses and
industry transformed California’s
economy
Gold mining was important, but
farming and ranching grew
Discrimination of Californios and
Native Americans