5.2 - Manifest Destiny

Historical Context: Coined by journalist John L. O'Sullivan in 1845, the term encouraged expansion from the Atlantic to the Pacific and into Mexican territories. This idea was not just a call for territorial expansion but was seen as a divine mission to spread American liberty and democracy.

Influences and Motivations:

• Nationalism: A strong sense of national pride and destiny fueled the desire for expansion.

• Economic Opportunities: Rapid economic development and population growth made new lands desirable for agriculture and commerce.

• Technological Advances: Innovations like the steamboat and telegraph facilitated exploration and settlement.

Opposition: Not everyone supported Manifest Destiny. Critics, including many Northerners, opposed it because they believed it was a scheme to expand slavery into new territories.

Texas Annexation:

• Background: After Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821, it invited American settlers into sparsely populated Texas. By 1830, Americans outnumbered Mexicans three to one.

• Conflict: Tensions rose after Mexico outlawed slavery and imposed cultural requirements, leading to increased American migration despite Mexican laws.

• Independence: In 1836, American settlers in Texas, led by Sam Houston, declared independence from Mexico, leading to the creation of the Republic of Texas.

Maine Boundary Dispute:

• Issue: An undefined border between Maine and Canadian New Brunswick led to the Aroostook War, a conflict primarily involving lumberjacks.

• Resolution: The Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842 resolved the dispute by dividing the contested land between Maine and Canada and settled the boundary of Minnesota.

Oregon Territory:

• Claims: Originally claimed by Spain, Russia, Britain, and the U.S., the region's American claim was bolstered by early explorers and settlers.

• Settlement: By the mid-1840s, thousands of American settlers moved to Oregon, motivated by the fertile land of the Willamette Valley.

Settlement Patterns:

• Migration: Post-acquisition, the settlement of western territories like California and Oregon accelerated.

• Challenges: Settlers faced numerous hardships, including disease and difficult travel conditions, but were driven by the promise of new opportunities

Economic and Social Impact:

• Mining Frontier:

  • Gold Rush Impact: The 1848 discovery of gold transformed California, rapidly increasing its population as prospectors and entrepreneurs came in, creating numerous boomtowns.

  • Slavery and Social Dynamics: Unlike many other new territories, California did not adopt slavery, shaping a unique social and labor landscape that hinted at future national tensions over the issue.

  • Economic Expansion: The gold rush spurred significant infrastructure and agricultural development, setting the stage for California’s growth into a major economic center.

• Farming Frontier: Legislation like the Preemption Acts allowed settlers to buy land at low prices, encouraging westward migration of mainly middle-class families.

• Urban Frontier: Cities like San Francisco and Denver rapidly developed from mining and farming, becoming central hubs for commerce and trade.

International Trade:

• Asian Commerce: Trade with China for tea, silk, and porcelain flourished. The opening of Japan through the Kanagawa Treaty in 1854 marked a significant expansion of U.S. influence in Asia.

Post-Civil War Expansion:

• Alaska Purchase: In 1867, Secretary of State William Seward purchased Alaska, extending U.S. territory further and continuing the spirit of Manifest Destiny beyond the Civil War.