Lesson 1: Manifest Destiny and Settling the West

Key Idea

In the 1800s, many Americans shared a powerful idea. They believed it was their country's Manifest Destiny to stretch from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. They felt this expansion was not just possible, but that it was certain to happen.

This belief was about more than just land. Supporters thought they were spreading American democracy and a better way of life. They saw it as their duty to bring their government and culture to new territories.

Key Idea

The United States grew larger by acquiring land in several ways. Sometimes, the U.S. used money to purchase huge areas, like the Louisiana Territory. Other times, it made a treaty, or formal agreement, with another country to set new borders, like it did for the Oregon Country.

The country also grew through conflict. The U.S. annexed Texas, which means it added the territory to the country. This led to a war with Mexico. After the U.S. won, it took a vast amount of land that had belonged to Mexico.

Key Idea

After the Revolution, the United States grew piece by piece. In 1803, the country bought a huge area from France called the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the nation's size. Soon after, the U.S. also gained Florida from Spain.

The country grew even more in the 1840s. The United States added a new state through the Texas Annexation in 1845. A year later, it settled a border dispute with Great Britain to gain the Oregon Country in the Northwest.

Key Idea

The land that the United States expanded into was not empty. It was the ancestral home of many Native American nations. As American settlers moved west, they wanted this land for farms and towns, which led to conflict.

The U.S. government created policies to take this land. In 1830, Congress passed the Indian Removal Act. This law allowed the government to use soldiers to force Native Americans to leave their homes and move to unfamiliar territories.