Expansion Assessment
Storyboard Text
- The Louisiana Purchase- Implied powers in the Constitution (1803)
- Yeah, but I think he realized that the power to buy foreign land is implied in the Constitution.
- Did you hear that Jefferson made that purchase with France?
- Really? I thought that Congress denied he request for an amendment to buy foreign land.
- Texas- No more Constitution (1835)
- I am officially announcing that the Mexican government is overturning the Constitution!
- But we want our freedom!
- American Indians and "Westward Expansion"- Trail of Tears (1838)
- From the perspective of the US, the Louisiana Purchase was significant because it helped the US with the understanding that some powers in the Constitution are implied, which continued to change the citizen’s viewpoints of the Constitution in the future. From the perspective of France, the Louisiana Purchase was significant because it gave them an opportunity to focus on conquering England addition to the fact that Napoleon feared the USA’s growing population so he felt the need to comply with the US’s needs.
- Mexican War- Is the Mexican War necessary? (1846)
- This war will only increase the pro-slavery states power!
- From the perspective of the Anglo-American settlers, the promises ,and documents that the Mexican government had taken back was significant because this was another example of things being rescinded, resulting in the feeling that the settlers had lost some of their freedom and for the request for annexation to the US. From the perspective of the Mexican government, the promises and documents that they had taken back was significant because the Mexico City government had become unstable since Santa Anna was centralizing most powers to the government instead of states like Texas, so the government was probably regretting the decision to add ever give states so much power.
- Oregon Territory- Fifty-Four Forty or Fight! (1846)
- This land is ours now!
- From the perspective of the Native tribes, the Indian Removal Act was significant because even though the Indigenous People tried to resist moving with legal means and assimilation, they still had to participate in the Trail of Tears, which secured the idea that the white settlers were "dominant" or were "of more importance." From the perspective of the white settlers, the Indian Removal in the Southeast was significant because it only furthered their belief that they were superior and in control, as well as provided them with more land and resources.
- "Indian" Removal in the Southeast- Ghost Dance (1889)
- Ghost Dance ritual
- From the perspective of the US, the Mexican War was significant because it fulfilled the desire for manifest destiny among the citizens, but it also sparked a conflict with the states that were pro slavery and the ones against it about the necessity of the war. From the perspective of the Mexican government, the Mexican War was significant because they after denying the US’s offer for lands Texas-California, the US declared war against Mexico, which might have been a sort of awakening to the power of the US's army.
- From the perspective of the Native Tribes, Oregon territory was significant because the settlers from the US were invading their land regardless of what the government did which might have made them feel helpless against the settlers. From the perspective of the US, Oregon territory was significant because it was the main thing that achieved manifest destiny which fulfilled America’s need for expansion and proved the settlers to be vicious when it comes to attaining more land.
- But we signed a treaty so that we could have it!
- From the perspective of the Native Americans, Ghost Dance was significant because Wovoka prophesized a spiritual movement called Ghost Dance which was used give tribe members courage to fight, but the negative aspect of this was that it convinced them that they were almost invincible (Ex. Ghost Shirts). From the perspective of the white settlers, Ghost Dance was significant because the idea of it probably scared the US due to the fear that the Indians would be stronger than them in battle which contradicted what they had thought before and made them question their superiority.
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