Manifest Destiny was the 19th century belief that the United States was destined to expand its territory from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts. Between 1776 and 1848, the US territory expanded significantly through several means: independence from Britain in 1776; the Louisiana Purchase from France in 1803; the acquisition of Florida from Spain in 1819; the annexation of Texas as an independent republic in 1845; the Oregon Treaty with Britain in 1846; and the Mexican Cession following the Mexican-American War in 1848, which added most of the modern Southwest. President James K. Polk, known as "Mr. Manifest Destiny," oversaw much of this westward expansion during his one term in office between 1845-18

1. Manifest Destiny
US History
McIntyre
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
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

10. 10
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 1844
Presidential
election
B
E - Texas
D
C
E

11. 11
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

12. 12
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