THE US in the 19th

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• THE US in the 19th
• A. CONSTRUCTION OF A NATION
• EXPANDING WESTWARDS
• MAPS AND CULTURAL REGIONS IN THE U.S.

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The Old East the space was encompassed by the 13
colonies.
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Where was the Midwest located? ? territories
acquired by the Northwest Ordinance (1787
English cession of lands). the region south of
the Great Lakes, and north and west of the Ohio
River. Also called NorthWest, MidAmerica,
Heartland.
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The Great Plains

Vast zones of prairie and steppe (low
vegetation). Approximately 1,300,000 km2. They
are about 500 miles large (800 km) - and
2,000 miles (3,200 km) long. Were the home to
American bison herds (troupeaux) until the mid
19th c.
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The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence
was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers
in the Texas portion of the Mexican state
After Texas's annexation, Mexico broke diplomatic
relations with the United States. While the
former Republic of Texas could not enforce its
border claims, the United States had the military
strength and the political will to do so.
President Polk ordered General Zachary Taylor
south to the Rio Grande on January 13, 1846. A
few months later Mexican troops routed an
American cavalry patrol in the disputed area in
the Thornton Affair starting the Mexican-American
War. The first battles of the war were fought in
Texas the Siege of Fort Texas, Battle of Palo
Alto and Battle of Resaca de la Palma. After
these decisive victories, the United States
invaded Mexican territory ending the fighting in
Texas.
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2. THE WESTWARD EXPANSION FROM ACTORS TO
LEGISLATION.
The Wild West was a political horizon, which
both migrants and governments targeted...
Expeditions led by pastors (pastoral
communities) and explorers paved the way... Then
the Appropriation Acts...
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Expeditions were organized
Todays US territory was progressively
discovered, by explorers and along trails
Painting of hunter Daniel Boone passing through
the Cumberland Gap (late 18th c). It is an
Appalachian pass between Virginia, Tenessee and
Kentucky.
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 Lewis Clark on the Columbia River , Charles
Marion Russell, 1863.
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The Oregon Trail (1841-69) was initiated by new
settlers who were followed by railway companies.
Gold rush.
In the years 1840-1859 some 52,000 emigrants
trekked to Oregon but nearly five times that
number opted for California or Utah
Oregon Trail South Pass, Wyoming.
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The Homestead Act (1862) A United States
Federal law. Every farmer settling to the west,
in the Great Plains close to the Rockies, was
granted a freehold plot of land of 160 acres
(about 65 hectares) The candidate had to be at
least 21 years of age, and to have built on the
section, and lived in for 5 years, a house that
was at least 12 by 14 feet (3.6 x 4.3 m) in size.
This law deeply shaped the American territory
and farmed lands (squarred units). The family
head could buy it for 1.25 per acre (3/ha)
after six months. The Homestead Act helped
create more than 372,000 farms.
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3. THE WESTWARD EXPANSION MYTHS AND CONCEPTS.

• The Wild West, term that coins different
  meanings
• - unknown territories westwards visions of ???
• cf. movies Unforgiven( C. Eastwood), Pale
  Rider, Wyatt Earp, ...
• space of the wilderness...
• Examples? Sites?

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The West, or the movement westwards The West is
a typically American representation of the space
everything that dwells unknown (westwards) is
part of the American goal. The West is the area
of progress to be made. This is a space to be
conquered. We are all Pioneers . Pathfinders
on the Trails of Old and New Frontiers ? A
pionner spirit and a permanent construction
beyond borders.
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The Frontier Thesis is the conclusion of
Frederick Jackson Turner that the wellsprings of
American exceptionalism and vitality have always
been the American frontier, the region between
urbanized, civilized society and the untamed
wilderness.
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Manifest Destiny?
John Gast, American Progress, 1872.
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Manifest Destiny?
Most US historians only refer to this notion as a
cultural concept, not as a historical one.
? Concept elaborated in the 19th c. ? Tended to
interpret, rationalize or invent the movement of
Expansion westwards. A continental logic
expansion was necessary to reach a coherent
geographical unit, of continental extent (Ch.
Vevier, 1965).
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A dynamic vision of History. This territorial
extent is the reflect of the interior force of
the American population. Growing, immigrating,
audacious, turned towards progress Natives -
Mexicans - etc.).
President Monroe The greater the expansion, the
greater the advantage which the states will
derive from it. Extent of territory (...) gives
to a nation many of its characteristics. It marks
the extent of its resources, of its population,
of its physical force. It marks, in short, the
difference between a great and a small power.
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• Typically American messianism from the Pilgrim
  Fathers to the subjugation of Natives, Expansion
  was the result of Gods will.
• a Destiny, a Providence for this single
  population, not determined by the race, but by
  religion and territorial gains.
• ?? Intelligent Design in Biology lessons search
  for pieces of evidence of Gods action on
  History, on the daily life.

Protestantism and predestination.
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 The whole continent of North America appears to
be destined by Divine Providence to be peopled by
one nation, speaking one language, professing one
general system of religious and political
principles, and accustomed to one general tenor
of social usages and customs. For the common
happiness of them all, for their peace and
prosperity, I believe it is indispensable that
they should be associated in one federal Union .
1816 - Charles Robert Leslie painted John Quincy
Adams, an early promoter of continentalism.
 Late in life he came to regret his role in
helping U.S. slavery to expand, and became a
leading opponent of the annexation of Texas .
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Progress of America, 1875, by Domenico Tojetti
(1806-1892) Oakland Museum of California,
Oakland, CA.