1. You own a 25 year old family
business (movie theater, bowling
alley, restaurant, lumberyard,
hardware store, photo studio,
hair salon, or pharmacy).
Competitor Mal-Wart has just
built a superstore within two
miles of your business. And
there’s already another Super
Mal-Wart on the other side of
town. In fact there are 50 Mal-
Warts within a two-hour drive.
Aug 31/Sept 01 – Quick Write (p. 30)
List three choices that
you have to maintain or
improve your current
lifestyle.

2. The Power of an Idea
Manifest Destiny

3. “It is America’s right to stretch
from sea to shining sea.”
“Not only do we have a
responsibility to our citizens to
gain valuable natural resources
we also have a responsibility to
civilize this beautiful land.”

4. The term Manifest Destiny was first
coined by Congressman Robert
Winthrop and then made popular by
newspaper publisher John O’Sullivan
in the 1840s.
Origin of the
Term
Robert Winthrop John O’Sullivan

5. When John
O’Sullivan wrote
his first article
about Manifest
Destiny in 1839 the
idea of an
American destiny
was not new.
Origin of the
Term

6. Since the beginning of English
colonial history, the Puritans
emphasized the special destiny
of America.
This notion, based on
exceptionalism, was
fundamentally religious.
Origin of the
Term

7. Exceptionalism
American exceptionalism
is the belief that the United
States of America is a
unique nation and differs
historically from the rest of
the world in ways that offer
opportunity and hope for
humanity.

8. The Puritans believed that
God had made a covenant
with their people and had
chosen them to lead the
other nations of the
world.
The Puritans

9. In the 1800s it
meant that it was
God’s will that
Americans
expand from “sea
to shining sea.”
What is
Manifest Destiny?

10. Americans claimed
they were bringing
God, technology,
and civilization to
the west.
Manifest Destiny

11. Of course they
also brought
death, disease, and
war, but that was not
publicized.
Manifest Destiny

12. In the 19th century, this
theme became a political
ambition, an official
policy led by President
Polk, who was elected
on a Manifest Destiny
platform.
“Fifty-four
forty or
fight!”
Manifest Destiny

13. Territorial
Expansion19th Century

14. Settlers moving west on the Oregon Trail
were embarking on the most significant
journey of their lives. Thoughts of Manifest
Destiny danced in their heads--indeed, it was
a fever sweeping the nation.
Manifest Destiny

15. These pioneers were filled with mixed
emotions--hope for the future; despair over
leaving their homes; and fear of the unknown.
Manifest Destiny

16. In this assignment, you will have the
opportunity to express the thoughts and
actions, hopes and fears of the brave
people as they departed “civilization” for
the unknown.
Your Assignment

17. You will design a souvenir article of clothing
that illustrates your understanding of pioneers
moving West.
Your Assignment

18. If you walked into The T-Shirt Shop (assuming they had one
during this time period), in Independence, MO, in the 1840s to
buy a last-stop souvenir before departing on the Oregon Trail
with visions of Manifest Destiny on your mind, what would you
have seen for sale?
1-- What would a T-Shirt say about the people
living during this time?
2-- What symbols, pictures, people, things, etc.
might be seen on T-Shirts from this
time period?
3-- By what you see on the T-Shirts, what values
are important to these people?
ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:

19. You may illustrate your clothing in a
variety of ways, using color if desired:
1-- Art work only
2-- Slogans or writing only
3-- A combination
4-- Illustrate both sides, if desired
All material that appears on the clothing
must be accurate for the time period and
school appropriate.
You cannot use the words “fear,”
“hope,” or “despair.”

21. TYING IT ALL TOGETHER: The Pioneer Laundry Basket
Make a chart on a piece of paper titled: The Pioneer Laundry
Basket
The chart should have three columns:
1--100% Cotton (Hopes/Dreams)
2--50/50 Cotton/Polyester (Despair)
3--100% Polyester (Fears)
•Categorize all the clothing on the clothesline into your laundry
basket.
•Select your favorite article of clothing.
•At the bottom of the page that serves as the laundry basket,
explain your selection. Include the category that it fits into
and why it is your favorite.