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5.2 Manifest Destiny

3 min readdecember 30, 2022

Caleb Lagerwey

Caleb Lagerwey

Jillian Holbrook

Jillian Holbrook

Caleb Lagerwey

Caleb Lagerwey

Jillian Holbrook

Jillian Holbrook

The Rise of U.S. Expansion

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/American_Progress_%28John_Gast_painting%29.jpg/1920px-American_Progress_%28John_Gast_painting%29.jpg

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia

John L. O’Sullivan coined the term Manifest Destiny in 1845 while advocating for the . It came to be defined as the belief that God had given the United States the divine calling and privilege of spreading its civilization across the whole of the North American continent, moving westward from the Atlantic to the Pacific.  Expanding the territory of the United States included spreading its values of democracy, capitalism, and Christianity.

It quickly gained advocates throughout the US, especially among Democrats who were pro-expansion and hoped to gain additional territory to expand Jefferson’s so that more American citizens could be yeoman farmers and

The concept of was used to justify the expansion efforts of the United States, particularly in the west, through means such as the Louisiana Purchase, the Mexican-American War, and the forced relocation of Native American tribes. The belief in played a significant role in shaping and the country's expansion throughout the 19th century.

Areas & Impacts

The desire for , , and access to drew migration of settlers to areas in the west.

Some of the locations which attracted new settlers during the time of :

  • Texas for cotton cultivation and 🐂

  • Oregon (via the famous path to get there) for farming

    • British claimed this territory too

    • gets elected in 1844 with his promise of “54° 40' or fight!”

    • Peacefully resolved by Polk to focus on Mexico (see 5.3)

    • California for gold after 1849

  • Utah (Deseret) for Mormons seeking religious liberty and polygamy

You should also know some of the impacts of on the people out west and the United States as a whole:

  • leads to conflicts over the spread of slavery to the western territories

    • (This is a BIG deal in APUSH and is almost always on the exam in May)

  • Native Americans continued to resist losing land to white American settlers who moved west.

  • Led to the Mexican-American War (see 5.3)

  • The United States begins to seek greater access to Asian markets (🇯🇵 & 🇨🇳)

    • The U.S. expands into places like Alaska & Hawaii

    • The U.S. signs treaties like the in which sailed into with steamships armed with cannons and forced the Japanese to allow Americans to trade with them ⚓️

      • U.S. interest in expanding trade ultimately led to economic, diplomatic, and cultural initiatives to create more ties with Asia.

While is mostly associated with the westward expansion of the U.S. in the antebellum (pre-Civil War) era, the term also applies to later westward expansion efforts such as the that gave away land out west to American settlers. Westward migration also continued to increase after the Civil War due to improvements in western transportation and economic development. even later fueled the during the 1890s (see Period 7) and beyond. 

🎥 Watch: AP US History - Manifest Destiny

Key Terms to Review (28)

"54° 40' or fight!"

: This was a slogan used during the Oregon boundary dispute between U.S. and Britain, expressing the sentiment that U.S. should control all of Oregon territory up to latitude 54°40′.

Alaska & Hawaii Expansion

: The Alaska & Hawaii Expansion refers to the United States' acquisition of Alaska from Russia in 1867 and annexation of Hawaii in 1898, which expanded U.S. territory into the Pacific.

American Foreign Policy

: American Foreign Policy refers to the strategies and decisions made by the United States government regarding its interactions with other countries. It includes diplomacy, trade agreements, military actions, and humanitarian aid.

Annexation of Texas

: The annexation of Texas refers to when Texas joined the United States as its 28th state in 1845. This followed nearly a decade after it won independence from Mexico and existed as an independent Republic.

California Gold Rush (1849)

: The California Gold Rush was a mass migration to California following the discovery of gold in 1848. It brought approximately 300,000 people to the state and had significant social, economic, and political effects.

Cattle Ranching

: This is the business of raising cattle for meat (beef) production. In US history, this was particularly significant in western states during the 19th century after Civil War when demand for beef increased dramatically.

Commodore Matthew Perry

: A U.S. naval officer who played a significant role in opening Japan to trade with America in 1854 through his 'gunboat diplomacy'.

Deseret (Utah) for Mormons

: Deseret was an organized incorporated territory of United States proposed by Latter Day Saint (Mormon) leaders covering most of modern-day Utah and Nevada with portions extending into Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, and even reaching to Southern California's coast.

Economic Development in the West

: This refers to the growth and diversification of the economy in the western United States during the late 19th century, largely due to mining, agriculture, and railroad construction.

Economic Opportunities

: Economic opportunities refer to chances for individuals or businesses to improve their standard of living through employment or entrepreneurial ventures.

Edo Bay

: Edo Bay, now known as Tokyo Bay, is a bay located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. It played a significant role during the Tokugawa shogunate (1603-1868) when it was a major hub for domestic and international trade.

Empire of Liberty

: The Empire of Liberty is a term coined by Thomas Jefferson to describe the United States' responsibility to spread freedom and democracy throughout the world.

Homestead Act of 1862

: The Homestead Act of 1862 was a federal law that gave settlers 160 acres of public land for a small fee, provided they improve the land by building a dwelling and cultivating crops.

James K. Polk

: James K. Polk was the 11th President of United States (1845-1849) known for his policy of westward expansion which included Texas annexation and acquiring California from Mexico.

John L. O'Sullivan

: John L. O'Sullivan was an influential columnist and editor who coined the term 'Manifest Destiny' in 1845 while advocating for the annexation of Texas.

Manifest Destiny

: Manifest Destiny was a 19th-century belief that the United States was destined and divinely ordained to expand across the North American continent, from the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific Ocean.

Natural and Mineral Resources

: These are naturally occurring substances or materials that can be extracted from the earth and used for economic gain. They include things like oil, coal, gold, water, and timber.

Oregon Trail

: The Oregon Trail was a 2,170-mile route from Missouri to Oregon used by pioneers during the mid-1800s for westward expansion.

Plantation Owners

: Plantation owners were wealthy individuals who owned large agricultural estates, typically in the Southern United States, where enslaved people were forced to work.

Religious Refuge

: Religious refuge refers to safety sought by individuals or groups due persecution based on their religious beliefs in their home country.

Resistance from Native Americans

: This refers to the various forms of opposition and conflict initiated by Native American tribes against European settlers, colonial governments, and later, the United States government.

Spread of Slavery to Western Territories

: As American settlers moved westward, there was a contentious debate over whether new states and territories should be free or slave-holding. The spread of slavery to western territories was a major issue leading up to the Civil War.

Texas Cotton Cultivation

: This refers to the farming practice of growing cotton in Texas which became an important part of its economy especially during the 19th century.

Trade with Asia

: Trade with Asia refers to economic exchanges between Asian countries and other nations around the world. This has been historically significant due to Asia's rich resources, strategic location, and large consumer markets.

Treaty of Kanagawa

: An agreement signed in 1854 between Japan and the United States which ended Japan's policy of isolationism and opened up ports for American trade.

U.S. Overseas Expansion

: This refers to the period in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when the United States began to acquire territories outside of North America, marking its transformation from an isolationist country into a global power.

Western Transportation Improvements

: These were advancements in transportation methods (like railroads, canals) during the late 1800s that facilitated faster movement across the western United States.

Yeoman Farmers

: Yeoman farmers were small landowning farmers who worked their own land and usually did not own slaves. They were typically self-sufficient, emphasizing subsistence farming.

5.2 Manifest Destiny

3 min readdecember 30, 2022

Caleb Lagerwey

Caleb Lagerwey

Jillian Holbrook

Jillian Holbrook

Caleb Lagerwey

Caleb Lagerwey

Jillian Holbrook

Jillian Holbrook

The Rise of U.S. Expansion

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/American_Progress_%28John_Gast_painting%29.jpg/1920px-American_Progress_%28John_Gast_painting%29.jpg

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia

John L. O’Sullivan coined the term Manifest Destiny in 1845 while advocating for the . It came to be defined as the belief that God had given the United States the divine calling and privilege of spreading its civilization across the whole of the North American continent, moving westward from the Atlantic to the Pacific.  Expanding the territory of the United States included spreading its values of democracy, capitalism, and Christianity.

It quickly gained advocates throughout the US, especially among Democrats who were pro-expansion and hoped to gain additional territory to expand Jefferson’s so that more American citizens could be yeoman farmers and

The concept of was used to justify the expansion efforts of the United States, particularly in the west, through means such as the Louisiana Purchase, the Mexican-American War, and the forced relocation of Native American tribes. The belief in played a significant role in shaping and the country's expansion throughout the 19th century.

Areas & Impacts

The desire for , , and access to drew migration of settlers to areas in the west.

Some of the locations which attracted new settlers during the time of :

  • Texas for cotton cultivation and 🐂

  • Oregon (via the famous path to get there) for farming

    • British claimed this territory too

    • gets elected in 1844 with his promise of “54° 40' or fight!”

    • Peacefully resolved by Polk to focus on Mexico (see 5.3)

    • California for gold after 1849

  • Utah (Deseret) for Mormons seeking religious liberty and polygamy

You should also know some of the impacts of on the people out west and the United States as a whole:

  • leads to conflicts over the spread of slavery to the western territories

    • (This is a BIG deal in APUSH and is almost always on the exam in May)

  • Native Americans continued to resist losing land to white American settlers who moved west.

  • Led to the Mexican-American War (see 5.3)

  • The United States begins to seek greater access to Asian markets (🇯🇵 & 🇨🇳)

    • The U.S. expands into places like Alaska & Hawaii

    • The U.S. signs treaties like the in which sailed into with steamships armed with cannons and forced the Japanese to allow Americans to trade with them ⚓️

      • U.S. interest in expanding trade ultimately led to economic, diplomatic, and cultural initiatives to create more ties with Asia.

While is mostly associated with the westward expansion of the U.S. in the antebellum (pre-Civil War) era, the term also applies to later westward expansion efforts such as the that gave away land out west to American settlers. Westward migration also continued to increase after the Civil War due to improvements in western transportation and economic development. even later fueled the during the 1890s (see Period 7) and beyond. 

🎥 Watch: AP US History - Manifest Destiny

Key Terms to Review (28)

"54° 40' or fight!"

: This was a slogan used during the Oregon boundary dispute between U.S. and Britain, expressing the sentiment that U.S. should control all of Oregon territory up to latitude 54°40′.

Alaska & Hawaii Expansion

: The Alaska & Hawaii Expansion refers to the United States' acquisition of Alaska from Russia in 1867 and annexation of Hawaii in 1898, which expanded U.S. territory into the Pacific.

American Foreign Policy

: American Foreign Policy refers to the strategies and decisions made by the United States government regarding its interactions with other countries. It includes diplomacy, trade agreements, military actions, and humanitarian aid.

Annexation of Texas

: The annexation of Texas refers to when Texas joined the United States as its 28th state in 1845. This followed nearly a decade after it won independence from Mexico and existed as an independent Republic.

California Gold Rush (1849)

: The California Gold Rush was a mass migration to California following the discovery of gold in 1848. It brought approximately 300,000 people to the state and had significant social, economic, and political effects.

Cattle Ranching

: This is the business of raising cattle for meat (beef) production. In US history, this was particularly significant in western states during the 19th century after Civil War when demand for beef increased dramatically.

Commodore Matthew Perry

: A U.S. naval officer who played a significant role in opening Japan to trade with America in 1854 through his 'gunboat diplomacy'.

Deseret (Utah) for Mormons

: Deseret was an organized incorporated territory of United States proposed by Latter Day Saint (Mormon) leaders covering most of modern-day Utah and Nevada with portions extending into Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, and even reaching to Southern California's coast.

Economic Development in the West

: This refers to the growth and diversification of the economy in the western United States during the late 19th century, largely due to mining, agriculture, and railroad construction.

Economic Opportunities

: Economic opportunities refer to chances for individuals or businesses to improve their standard of living through employment or entrepreneurial ventures.

Edo Bay

: Edo Bay, now known as Tokyo Bay, is a bay located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. It played a significant role during the Tokugawa shogunate (1603-1868) when it was a major hub for domestic and international trade.

Empire of Liberty

: The Empire of Liberty is a term coined by Thomas Jefferson to describe the United States' responsibility to spread freedom and democracy throughout the world.

Homestead Act of 1862

: The Homestead Act of 1862 was a federal law that gave settlers 160 acres of public land for a small fee, provided they improve the land by building a dwelling and cultivating crops.

James K. Polk

: James K. Polk was the 11th President of United States (1845-1849) known for his policy of westward expansion which included Texas annexation and acquiring California from Mexico.

John L. O'Sullivan

: John L. O'Sullivan was an influential columnist and editor who coined the term 'Manifest Destiny' in 1845 while advocating for the annexation of Texas.

Manifest Destiny

: Manifest Destiny was a 19th-century belief that the United States was destined and divinely ordained to expand across the North American continent, from the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific Ocean.

Natural and Mineral Resources

: These are naturally occurring substances or materials that can be extracted from the earth and used for economic gain. They include things like oil, coal, gold, water, and timber.

Oregon Trail

: The Oregon Trail was a 2,170-mile route from Missouri to Oregon used by pioneers during the mid-1800s for westward expansion.

Plantation Owners

: Plantation owners were wealthy individuals who owned large agricultural estates, typically in the Southern United States, where enslaved people were forced to work.

Religious Refuge

: Religious refuge refers to safety sought by individuals or groups due persecution based on their religious beliefs in their home country.

Resistance from Native Americans

: This refers to the various forms of opposition and conflict initiated by Native American tribes against European settlers, colonial governments, and later, the United States government.

Spread of Slavery to Western Territories

: As American settlers moved westward, there was a contentious debate over whether new states and territories should be free or slave-holding. The spread of slavery to western territories was a major issue leading up to the Civil War.

Texas Cotton Cultivation

: This refers to the farming practice of growing cotton in Texas which became an important part of its economy especially during the 19th century.

Trade with Asia

: Trade with Asia refers to economic exchanges between Asian countries and other nations around the world. This has been historically significant due to Asia's rich resources, strategic location, and large consumer markets.

Treaty of Kanagawa

: An agreement signed in 1854 between Japan and the United States which ended Japan's policy of isolationism and opened up ports for American trade.

U.S. Overseas Expansion

: This refers to the period in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when the United States began to acquire territories outside of North America, marking its transformation from an isolationist country into a global power.

Western Transportation Improvements

: These were advancements in transportation methods (like railroads, canals) during the late 1800s that facilitated faster movement across the western United States.

Yeoman Farmers

: Yeoman farmers were small landowning farmers who worked their own land and usually did not own slaves. They were typically self-sufficient, emphasizing subsistence farming.


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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.


© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.