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Hi there! I'm Studyfin, your history buddy. Today, we will explore how the United States grew from coast to coast!
In the 1800s, many Americans believed in 'Manifest Destiny.' This was the idea that the United States was meant to expand all the way to the Pacific Ocean. People moved west to find new land, build homes, and start new lives.
In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson bought a huge piece of land from France. This was called the Louisiana Purchase. It doubled the size of the United States overnight and opened up the West for exploration.
To see what lay in this new land, Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on an expedition. They mapped the land, met Native American tribes, and reached the Pacific Ocean with the help of Sacagawea.
Let's practice our historical thinking skills. Imagine you are looking at a map from 1850 showing the Oregon Trail. Explain how this map shows the concept of Manifest Destiny in action.
- First, look closely at the map. Notice the long trails starting in the East and stretching all the way to the West coast.
- Next, think about what Manifest Destiny means. It is the belief that the nation should span from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean.
- Then, connect the map to the belief. The trails show thousands of families moving across the continent to settle new areas.
- Finally, explain your conclusion. The map is physical proof of the belief in action. It shows people turning the idea of coast-to-coast growth into a reality.
