Manifest Destiny Lecture Notes

Introduction

• John Louis O'Sullivan coined "Manifest Destiny" in 1845, advocating for the annexation of Texas.
• Manifest Destiny: Belief in the U.S.'s mission to spread democracy and its destiny to expand across the continent.
• Supported by the Democratic Party's Young America movement, emphasizing national unity and American exceptionalism.
• Not universally accepted; critics like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Abraham Lincoln viewed it as imperialism and critiqued aggressive expansion.

Antebellum Western Migration and Indian Removal

• Post-War of 1812: Rapid settlement in Great Lakes due to aggressive land sales.
• Native American removal central to expansion, e.g., Florida annexation and Seminole Wars.
• Indian Removal Act (1830): Authorized negotiations for Native American relocation west of the Mississippi.
• Cherokee Trail of Tears: Forced relocation leading to the death of thousands; legal battles like Worcester v. Georgia.

Life and Culture in the West

• Migrants sought stability, engaged in small-scale farming, and faced economic challenges like the Panic of 1819.
• Women played key roles in homesteading while facing gender norms; sometimes gained more household power.
• Transportation improvements (roads, canals, railroads) crucial for settlement and economy.

Texas, Mexico, and the United States

• Texas Revolution (1835-1836): Resulting in independence from Mexico; fueled by disagreements over slavery and governance.
• U.S. annexation of Texas (1845) seen as aggression by Mexico, leading to the Mexican-American War (1846-1848).
• Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848): U.S. gains significant territory; exacerbates slavery debate.

Manifest Destiny and the Gold Rush

• California Gold Rush (1848): Mass migration fueled by gold discovery; led to rapid urban growth and social tensions.
• Railroads: Called for to connect West to East, economic and social tensions over routes.

The Monroe Doctrine and Manifest Destiny

• Monroe Doctrine (1823): Asserted U.S. opposition to European colonization in the Americas.
• Filibustering: Private attempts to annex territories like Cuba; often illegal and controversial.

Conclusion

• Manifest Destiny intertwined with economic development and national identity.
• Exposed contradictions in American ideals, especially regarding Native American treatment and slavery.

Primary Sources

1. Cherokee Petition (1836): Protest against forced removal.
2. John O'Sullivan on Manifest Destiny (1845): Original articulation of the idea.
3. Diary of Woman Migrating to Oregon (1853): Personal account of westward migration challenges.
4. Pun Chi's Complaint (1860): Petition against racial abuse faced by Chinese immigrants.
5. Wyandotte on Slavery Tensions (1849): Describes the complexities of Native American and settler interactions.
6. Francisco de Miranda's Letters (1805-1806): On Latin American independence efforts.
7. Monroe Doctrine (1823): U.S. policy against European intervention.
8. Manifest Destiny Painting (1872): Symbolic representation of westward expansion.
9. Anti-Immigrant Cartoon (1860): Reflects xenophobia during expansion.

Reference Material

• Recommended readings cover topics like Native American displacement, slavery in Texas, and the Gold Rush's social impact.