Manifest Destiny Study Guide

-I can explain how the American ideology behind Manifest Destiny fueled western expansion.

-I can explain a variety of motives for western expansion.

-I can use various maps to show territories acquired through westward expansion.

-I can explain why Texans and Tejanos wanted independence from Mexico.

-I can explain the cause and effects of the Mexican War.

-I can read/interpret primary documents over the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

-I can use maps to identify the route of the Oregon Trail.

-I can explain why settlers would venture westward on the Oregon Trail.

-I can explain how the gold rush caused many different ethnic groups to settle in California.

The California Gold Rush

Gold was first found by James Marshall on John Sutter's mill. It was first a shock to the both of them and they wanted to keep the discovery a secret. However, word spread locally and eventually made its way to President Polk where he would address this excitement, confirming the California gold strike in his farewell message to Congress.

California had not been occupied by many Americans prior to the gold rush. However, once "gold fever" struck, and the discovery of gold was known, tens of thousands of Americans decided to brave the long and dangerous journey to reach California in 1849. These migrants would then be known as the forty-niners.

Individuals in the U.S. sought various routes to reach California. Some traveled in wagon trains overland along the California Trail. Others traveled by sea route either sailing down the coast of the Atlantic to then cross land near Panama or Nicaragua. Some even journeyed all the way around Cape Horn at the tip of South America. Whatever the method most forty-niners would arrive in San Francisco. 

San Francisco was a port town with natural harbors and located near the gold strike. The town soon became a convenient location for trading centers as well as a stopping point for travelers. It was with these key features that it became the developed city that it is today.  

This "gold fever" spread not only to American citizens. The lure of gold attracted miners from all around the world. One group particular was the Chinese, they were also hoping to seek economic relief. For these immigrant gold seekers they had planned on hitting it rich then returning home after making their fortunes. This however would change, even after not becoming rich, many decided to stay in California. 

Almost overnight business growth, gold mining, and trade transformed California. With the gold rush simmering down immigrants found that they were able to make a good living for themselves through hard work and opportunity. Without the gold rush California would have grown slowly. It was with this boom in population and movement from other nations around the World that allowed California to develop into the diverse society it is today.  

The Oregon Trail stretched nearly 2,000 miles across the U.S. There were various reasons as to why specific groups wanted to take on this challenge and venture out west. Mountain men will be some of the first non- American Indians to travel to the Rocky Mountains and to the Pacific Northwest. Their primary motivation was for the fur trading and trapping. In the early 1800's fur clothing and hats were very popular therefore companies in the U.S. as well as Europe would hire mountain men to bring back the furs of different animals. Mountain men also explored the west for the wealth and adventure of it. In order to survive some of the harsh conditions mountain men adopted some of the Native American culture and even married American Indian women.

Another group of American settlers out west were the missionaries. Their main motive was to spread Christianity. After the Second Great Awakening, churches also wanted to convert the Native Americans and bring their religion to the far west.

Finally, other pioneers had come in hopes of improving their life. These families moved out west for rich farmland, great forests, rivers full of fish, and good climate. Other pioneers also moved to escape the economic hardships in the east after the Panic of 1837. The territorial government set up in Oregon Country also created land grants promising families who moved out a claim of 640 acres of land. 

Although the journey on the Oregon Trail was difficult, settlers had faith that the opportunities and  resources out west were worth the challenge. 

Assignment: Be sure to have the various reasons as to why the three different groups of American settlers traveled out west. The three groups include: mountain men, missionaries, and the pioneers. Use this google doc to organize the different reasons and resources. 

There were many cause and effects stemming from the Mexican War. The major outcome being the acquisition of the Mexican Cession allowing the United States to expand by one third.With the Mexican Cession, the U.S. gained access to many ports along the coast of California and eventually the discovery of gold.

Use the following google doc to review the significant causes and effects of the Mexican War.

Cause and Effects of Mexican War

Tuesday, April 4

After you have identified the major causes of the Mexican War proceed to analyze these primary documents!

Assignment
First: Make a copy of this document
Second: Source the document
Third: Read through first document and answer question, highlight with highlighting tool
Fourth: Read through second document and answer question, highlight with highlighting tool
Fifth: share with me at emily.slechta@fairfieldsfuture.org

OR

Get a copy of the document the next time you are in class!

Tuesday, April 4

During the election of 1844 the annexation of Texas is going to be one of the major issues during the campaign. The final nominees for president will be Henry Clay and James K. Polk. During the campaign Henry Clay will avoid taking a firm stance on the idea of Manifest Destiny, knowing that when it is discussed it often causing conflict over slave and free states creating an unbalance in our Union. However, James K. Polk will not shy away. Manifest Destiny will be a major platform during his campaign and be for the expansion of the U.S.

Therefore when Polk wins the election he takes that as a sign that America is for annexing Texas and fulfilling their Manifest Destiny. This however causes tension with Mexico- leading to possible war.

Annexing Texas then raised the question and dispute over each nations borders. After Texas had rebelled they claimed their land as everything North of the Rio Grande.

However, Mexico only recognized Texas and now America's land as north of the Nueces River. President Polk will first send John Slidell a U.S. representative to Mexico City to negotiate a solution and prevent war. Additionally, Polk orders General Zachary Taylor to take a large U.S. army to Corpus Christi- near the Nueces River not to start war but to be ready.

If you are absent on this day in class you will need to read through this passage and identify 4 different causes of the Mexican War. Get worksheet from Ms. Morris to transfer reasons the next time you are in class, we will continue to add the effects of the war on this document.

Manifest Destiny can be seen as a journey for opportunity. Expanding markets, promoting industry, increasing the economy, and spreading the American beliefs and religion. However, it can also have negative effects. Such as displacing persons like the Native Americans, destroying natural habitats, as well as causing conflict and death.

Assignment: You are now an artist that has to depict either viewpoint of Manifest Destiny. Get a piece of poster paper or a plain sheet of paper to create your drawing. First decide if you think it was a good thing? or a bad thing? (Use your bubble sheet for inspiration, you will also need to turn this in with the poster!) On the poster you can include what Americans were doing along the way, reasons for expanding, or other conflicts that could occur and who they could be between. Make sure I can tell if you are for or against westward expansion in Manifest Destiny.