Overview
This lecture covers APUSH Period 5 Key Concept 5.1, focusing on Manifest Destiny, westward expansion, immigration, and their economic, political, and social consequences in the United States from the 1840sā1870s.
Immigration and Nativism
- Large waves of Irish immigrants arrived due to famine in the 1840s, settling mainly in Northern cities and working unskilled jobs.
- Competition for jobs between Irish immigrants and African Americans fueled racial tensions in the North.
- Irish immigrants largely supported the Democratic Party and influenced political machines like Tammany Hall.
- German immigrants were diverse in religion and class and settled mainly in the Old Northwest, forming tight-knit communities.
- Nativist (anti-immigrant) sentiment rose, driven by fears about job competition, political influence, and cultural change.
- The Know-Nothing Party formed, advocating for immigration restrictions.
Manifest Destiny & Territorial Expansion
- Manifest Destiny was the belief that Americans were destined to expand across the continent, justified by ideas of racial superiority.
- U.S. acquired Oregon (1846), annexed Texas (1845), and gained vast southwestern lands after the Mexican-American War (Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, 1848).
- Expansion brought new territories and forced the issue of slavery into national politics, increasing sectionalism.
Western Migration and Economic Opportunity
- Groups including Mormons (to Utah, 1847) and Gold Rush seekers (to California, 1848) moved west seeking religious freedom and economic opportunities.
- The west attracted not only white Americans but also African Americans and immigrants from Asia and other regions.
- The federal government promoted western development through acts like the Pacific Railroad Act (1862) and Homestead Act (1862).
Economic Development and Environmental Impact
- Railroads, funded by federal subsidies, connected the West to national markets.
- Mining booms, such as the California Gold Rush and Comstock Lode, drove population growth and economic development.
- The Homestead Act encouraged farming on the Great Plains, leading to significant westward migration.
- Expansion caused environmental changes: buffalo population collapse and soil erosion due to over-farming.
Conflict and Cultural Change in the West
- Westward expansion led to violent conflict with Native Americans (e.g., Sand Creek Massacre 1864, Battle of Little Bighorn 1876).
- Native Americans faced pressure to assimilate or move onto reservations.
- Hispanic Californios lost land rights after the U.S. acquisition of the Southwest, though Latino culture persisted in the region.
U.S. Expansion and Trade with Asia
- Faster clipper ships and new treaties expanded U.S. trade with China (first treaty, 1844) and opened Japan (Commodore Perry, 1852).
- U.S. missionaries went to China and Japan to spread Christianity and foster cultural ties.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Manifest Destiny ā belief that Americans were destined to expand across North America.
- Nativism ā anti-immigrant sentiment favoring native-born citizens.
- Homestead Act (1862) ā law granting 160 acres of land to settlers who farmed it for five years.
- Pacific Railroad Act (1862) ā law authorizing construction of a transcontinental railroad.
- Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) ā ended the Mexican-American War, ceding vast territories to the U.S.
- Know-Nothing Party ā political party advocating for immigration restrictions.
- Sectionalism ā increased regional tension, especially over slavery, between North and South.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review Key Concept 5.2 on sectionalism and the impact of expansion on national unity.
- Study the details of major legislative acts (Homestead Act, Pacific Railroad Act) and their impact on westward expansion.
- Prepare to identify causes and consequences of westward migration for different groups.