Westward Expansion

WESTWARD EXPANSION

Continued…Take out your notebook and grab a textbook (p. 408)

Manifest Destiny- the belief that it was America’s destiny to expand from coast to coast.

“Manifest Destiny” First coined by newspaper editor, John O’Sullivan in 1845.

".... the right of our manifest destiny to over spread and to possess the whole of the continent which Providence has given us for the development of the great experiment of liberty and federaltive development of self-government entrusted to us. It is right such as that of the tree to the space of air and the earth suitable for the full expansion of its principle and destiny of growth."

A myth of the West as a land of romance and adventure emerged.

Trails Westward

California Gold Rush, 1849

49er’s

Cattle driving, ranching, cowboys and Vaqueros

Farming in 1800’s

Soddy- a sod home

Farmers and the Populist Movement

Farmers endured great hardships in helping to transform the plains from the “Great American Desert” to the “breadbasket of the nation.”

Farmers were in economic distress- debts increased, and transport prices skyrocketed

Farmers unite to address their common problems. Farmers created groups such as “the Grange” and “The Farmer’s

Alliances” to advocate their concerns.

Populism The political movement of “Populism” began where the people sought

reforms to lift the burden of debt from the farmers and workers and to give the people a greater voice in their government.

Some of the proposed reforms of the Populists were:

- higher prices for their goods - a graduated income tax - a federal loan program

The Populist movement died out when the Democratic candidate in supportof the movement lost the election to the Republican William McKinley (our 25th President) who more represented bankers and businessmen.