THE ISSUE OF TERRITORIAL EXPANSION SPARKED CONSIDERABLE DEBATE IN THE PERIOD 1800-1855.

ANALYZE THIS DEBATE AND EVALUATE THE INFLUENCE OF BOTH SUPPORTERS AND OPPONENTS OF TERRITORIAL EXPANSION IN SHAPING FEDERAL POLICY.

BACKGROUND ON THE MANIFEST DESTINY

The term manifest destiny originated in the 1840s. It expressed the belief that it was Anglo-Saxon Americans’ providential mission to expand their civilization and institutions across the breadth of North America. This expansion would involve not merely territorial aggrandizement but the progress of liberty and individual economic opportunity as well.

TIMELINE

Louisiana Purchase 1803

Purchase of Florida

22 Feb 1819

Oregon Territory

18 Jun 1846

Mexican Cession (War with Mexico)

2 Feb 1848

Mexican and U.S. negotiators (Trist) sign the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, it is ratified by the U.S. Senate on March 10th and by Mexican Congress on May 25th.

Annexation of Texas

29 Dec 1845

KEY

ANDREW JACKSON 1829-1837

1838 TRAIL OF TEARS

1836 TEXAS REVOLUTION

1848 GOLD DISCOVERED IN CALIFORNIA

1833 SANTA ANNA ELECTED PRESIDENT OF MEXICO

Thesis:

FROM 1800-1855 THE MANIFEST DESTINY INFLUENCE THE UNITED STATES IN ACCOMPLISHING MANY TERRITORIAL EXPANSIONS SUCH AS THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE OF 1803, THE PURCHASE OF FLORIDA 1819, THE OREGON TERRITORY, AND THE MEXICAN CESSION. CONSEQUENTLY, DUE TO THIS ACQUIRING OF NEW LAND THERE WAS MANY SUPPORTERS AND OPPONENTS LEADING TO THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT’S ACTIONS SHAPING THE COUNTRY AS IT IS TODAY.

1ST PARAGRAPH SUPPORTER

UNITED STATES HOPED IN OPENING GATEWAY OF TRADE TO THE PACIFIC

OUR JOB AS SONS OF GOD TO EXPAND ACROSS THE CONTINENT

2ND PARAGRAPH OPPONENT

BELIEVED THAT NOT ALL PEOPLE(MEXICANS) WERE CAPABLE OF LIVING UNDER A DEMOCRACY

TRAIL OF TEARS 1830S

PEOPLE WOULD ALL LEAVE TO THE WEST