Manifest Destiny
In American Progress, painted by John Gast in 1872, an allegorical female figure of America leads pioneers and railroads westward as Native Americans and buffalo flee. The concept of manifest destiny represented in the painting related to the belief that the United States had a moral and divine mandate to colonize the lands west of the Mississippi.
[Library of Congress]
It is "our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our multiplying millions."
-John O'Sullivan, Democratic Review July–August 1845
You are about to embark on a virtual field trip about Manifest Destiny. In the 1800's America's population was increasing at a dramatic rate. Due to this increase, Americans began looking westward for land to settle.When you take this tour, first print the map and activity questions below.
Documents:
Manifest Destiny Map
Label and color the different areas of the continental United States. Create a foldable using the map and information from the Activity below.Field Trip Activity
Using information found during the field trip.What: What is the name of the territory?
Who: Who did we aquire the territory from?
How: How did we aquire the territory? Purchase? War? Treaty?Vocabulary:
decree cession manifest destiny prairie schooner annex joint occupation emigrants empresario
Click on the colony where Jamestown was founded to begin the tour.
