Is the belief that the United States was meant to expand from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean?

   
Revival of Expansionism in the 1840s
Introduction - Revival of Expansionism - The Oregon Question - War With Mexico

By 1820, the United States already extended well beyond its original boundaries. Through the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 and treaties with Spain and Britain, the nation's borders moved west to the Rocky Mountains, north to the 49th parallel, and south to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. These boundaries remained essentially intact until the 1840s, when the United States acquired massive territories in the Southwest and on the Pacific Coast.

A complex mix of political, social, and economic factors fueled American expansionist sentiment in the 1840s. Many Americans subscribed to the concept of "Manifest Destiny," the belief that Providence preordained the United States to occupy as much land on the continent as possible. Some saw lucrative economic opportunities in the vast stretches of arable land and superb Pacific Coast ports. Others dreamed of the romance of settling uncharted terrain, or thought the United States should expand rapidly across the continent before foreign nations could do so. These expansionist yearnings fueled American settlement in Texas and Oregon, the acquisition of which became a principal object of American foreign policy by 1845.

Texas Independence

With the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819, Spain settled a long dispute with the United States over its southern border. In return for Florida and the Gulf Coast lands east of the Mississippi River, the United States foreswore all claims to Texas in the west. However, soon after the treaty was in place the Mexican War of Independence ended Spanish rule on the continent and forced Spain to relinquish all rights to Texas.

The newly independent Mexican Republic rejected all American offers to buy Texas during the 1820s and 1830s, but agreed to grant huge tracts of inexpensive land to American settlers on the condition that they convert to Catholicism, learn to speak the Spanish language, and take Mexican citizenship. In response, more than three hundred slaveholding American families settled in Texas during the 1820s. Early settlers adapted well to their new home and met the conditions for settlement set by the Mexican government. But later, tensions arose between the Mexican government and the region's Anglo and Mexican settlers over the issues of slavery, taxation, and settlement requirements. The Mexican government responded by barring any further settlement in Texas by Americans and banning slavery.

Is the belief that the United States was meant to expand from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean?

Samuel Houston by Francis D'Avignon (c. 1814%#151;61), Lithograph on paper, 1848, NPG.93.270, National Portrait Gallery

The strained relationship between the Texans and the Mexican government turned violent in 1835 with the Texan Revolt. After a series of bloody engagements, including the legendary siege of the Alamo, the Texans, led by Sam Houston, won a decisive victory at San Jacinto in 1836. Following that battle, the Mexican army commander General Antonio L�pez de Santa Anna signed, but later renounced, treaties that granted Texas independence and established its southwest boundary at the R�o Grande.

While a majority of Texans and many Americans favored annexation in 1836, the admission of a slave-holding Texas (or several states formed from Texas territory) threatened the delicate balance of slave and free state representation in the Senate that had been carefully maintained since 1820. Rather than upset this balance, the United States recognized Texas as a sovereign nation, leaving the tensions between Mexico and Texas to simmer for the nine and one-half years of Texan independence.

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Review on the process and ideas relating to Manifest Destiny.

Terms in this set (12)

Manifest Destiny

The belief that the United States was destined to stretch across the continent from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean

Louisiana Purchase

The U.S., under Jefferson, bought the Louisiana territory from France, under the rule of Napoleon, in 1803. The U.S. paid $15 million for the Louisiana Purchase, and Napoleon gave up his empire in North America. The U.S. gained control of Mississippi trade route and doubled its size.

Florida

Spain, in order to avoid war with the U.S., sold us Florida for $5 million. This was after Andrew Jackson's illegal invasion of Florida. He did it in order to stop the Indians and runaway slaves from attacking the United States. This was under the orders of President James Monroe.

Texas

When the treaty between the U.S. and Mexico failed the battle at the Alamo blew up. Mexico was angry that U.S. citizens did not abide by the way of the Mexicans. Some Americans that fought at the Alamo are Davy Crockett, James (Jim) Bowie, and William Travis.

Oregon County

After pioneers traveled along the Oregon Trail into Oregon county a agreement was reached with Britain. We ended up splitting Oregon up dividing by the 49th parallel.

Mexican Cession (April 1846)

Mexican troops fire upon Americans patrolling the Rio Grande. President James K. Polk provoked the Mexicans so he could declare war.

Mexican Cession (around July 1846)

General Stephen Kearny led troops out of Kansas to occupy New Mexico. No violence was used to take over New Mexico. He then moved on to California and joined the rebels, California was soon in control of the U.S. Freemont launched this rebel.

Mexican Cession (Feb. 1847)

Americans met up with Mexicans in Buena VIsta. Santa Anna was forced to retreat south. This was all Zachary Taylor.

Mexican Cession (March 1847)

Winfield Scott fights his way from Veracruz to Mexico City.

Mexican Cession (Sept. 1847)

American army captures Mexico City.

Mexican Cession (Feb. 1848)

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Mexico gave up half of its land to the U.S. We paid $15 million.

Gadsden Purchase

U.S. wanted the flat land for railroads. We paid $10 million.

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What is the belief that America should spread from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean?

Manifest Destiny, a phrase coined in 1845, is the idea that the United States is destined—by God, its advocates believed—to expand its dominion and spread democracy and capitalism across the entire North American continent.

Which term is the belief that the US border should extend from the Atlantic to Pacific?

This era, from the War of 1812 to the acquisition of Alaska in 1867, has been called the "age of manifest destiny". During this time, the United States expanded to the Pacific Ocean—"from sea to shining sea"—largely defining the borders of the continental United States as they are today.

What is the belief that the US should expand from the East Coast to the West Coast?

Many Americans subscribed to the concept of "Manifest Destiny," the belief that Providence preordained the United States to occupy as much land on the continent as possible. Some saw lucrative economic opportunities in the vast stretches of arable land and superb Pacific Coast ports.