Manifest Destiny, A to Z

Simon Kenton was a Frontiersman, scout, and soldier who is most famous for helping defend Kentucky settlers from the late Colonial Era to the Early Republic. Kenton is one of the most important figures of the early era of Westward Expansion and Manifest Destiny and was associated with Daniel Boone and George Rogers Clark.

The Land Ordinance of 1785 was enacted by the Confederation Congress on May 20, 1785. It established policies and procedures for the orderly survey and settlement of lands purchased from Indian inhabitants in areas of North America ceded by Great Britain to the United States after the Revolutionary War.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806) was a military expedition that explored the upper regions of the Louisiana Purchase from St. Louis westward to present-day Astoria, Oregon. The expedition was the first overland expedition conducted by the United States government and was a major achievement that helped open the frontier for Westward Expansion and the fulfillment of Manifest Destiny.

Stephen Harriman Long (1784–1864) was a soldier, explorer, and surveyor who is most well known for leading five expeditions into the Louisiana Purchase Territory and for referring to the Great Plains as the “Great American Desert.”

Roanoke Colony was the first English Colony established in the New World. It was located on Roanoke Island, off the coast of North Carolina and started in 1587. However, it disappeared by 1590, almost exactly three years later. The mystery of the "Lost Colony" remains one of the most intriguing legends in American History.

In 1803, the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million and doubled the size of the nation.

“Manifest Destiny” is the idea that Americans had a “God-given right” — a divine right — to expand across the continent, from the east coast to the west coast, from “sea to shining sea,” planting democracy, capitalism, and Christianity along the way.

Facts about the culture, society, and nature of Colonial Maryland, which was one of the 13 Colonies that declared independence from Great Britain. Maryland was founded in 1632 and implemented the Act of Toleration, one of the first laws requiring religious tolerance in America.

Massachusetts Bay Colony was established in 1629 when King Charles I issued a charter that established the Massachusetts Bay Company and gave the company permission to establish a settlement in New England. Prior to the American Revolution, it became the largest and most powerful British colony in New England and is one of the 13 Original Colonies that declared independence in 1776.

Key facts about the Mexican-American War.

The Mexican-American War was caused by several incidents that took place between the United States and Mexico, including the Texas Revolution, the Annexation of Texas, and a dispute over the border between Mexico and Texas. Further, instability in the Mexican Government and America's desire to fulfill its "Manifest Destiny" helped cause the war.

Lasting from April 25, 1846 – February 2, 1848, the Mexican-American War polarized sectional differences over the extension of slavery in the United States, and it served as a training ground for numerous general officers who fought on both sides during the American Civil War.

The Middle Colonies in the Colonial Era were New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Known as the “Breadbasket Colonies,” they were diverse in terms of government, culture, and society but had similar economies. Although they supported the ideals of the American Revolution, they were reluctant to support independence. However, they were four of the 13 Original Colonies that declared independence from Britain in July 1776, creating the United States of America.

The Monroe Doctrine is a cornerstone of America's Foreign Policy that warned against European influence in the Western Hemisphere and has been modified to justify American involvement in the region.

The Mormon Trail was used by more than 60,000 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to migrate from the Midwest to the Salt Lake Valley in Utah in the 19th Century. Others used the trail to travel further into the American West. The trail played a role in helping the United States settle the continent, from the East Coast to the West Coast.

APUSH Unit 1, Topic 1.2 covers topics related to the regions of North America, Central America, and South America prior to the arrival of Europeans.

The New England Colonies in the Colonial Era were Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Known as the “Puritan Colonies,” they were shaped by Puritan religious ideology and shared many of the same characteristics in government, economy, culture, and society. Their independent spirit made New England the center of the American Revolution, and they were four of the 13 Original Colonies that declared independence from Britain in July 1776, creating the United States of America.

Facts about the culture, society, and nature of the New Hampshire Colony, which was one of the 13 Colonies that declared independence from Great Britain. New Hampshire started in 1623 and spent many years under the control of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

The New Jersey Colony was part of New Sweden, then New Netherland, before England gained control in the late 17th Century. Known for its diverse culture and society, the colony had economic ties to New York City and Philadelphia due to its close proximity and agricultural economy. In 1776, New Jersey joined the other colonies in declaring independence from Great Britain and establishing the United States of America.

The New York Colony was part of the Dutch colony called New Netherland before England gained control in the late 17th Century. Known for its diverse culture and society, the colony is most famous for its central role in the economy and politics of Colonial America. In 1776, New York joined the other colonies in declaring independence from Great Britain and establishing the United States of America.