Manifest Destiny and the Expansion of America

What if Texas had remained independent? What if the Lincoln-Douglas debates had not propelled Abraham Lincoln into the national spotlight? What if the United States had peacefully divided into two (or more) nations instead of engaging in civil war? As unlikely as these scenarios seem, each one actually could have happened, each a plausible result if specific decisions and events had played our just a little differently. Turning Points-Actual and Alternate Histories: Manifest Destiny and the Expansion of America takes a close look at ten important historical turning points between 1800 and the Civil War, including the Lewis and Clark expedition, the War of 1812, the Monroe Doctrine, the Mexican War, the California Gold Rush, and the Compromise of 1850. In addition to providing an insightful review of each historical instance, the book offers a thought-provoking alternative take, offering credible speculation on the path history easily could have taken. Book jacket.

Contributors	p. xi
Introduction	p. xiii
Lewis and Clark	p. 1
Introduction	p. 1
Turning Point	p. 4
Actual History	p. 5
Alternate History	p. 11
Discussion Questions	p. 15
Bibliography and Further Reading	p. 16
The War of 1812	p. 17
Introduction	p. 17
Turning Point	p. 22
Actual History	p. 24
Alternate History	p. 32
Discussion Questions	p. 38
Bibliography and Further Reading	p. 38
The Monroe Doctrine	p. 41
Introduction	p. 41
Turning Point	p. 46
Actual History	p. 48
Alternate History	p. 56
Discussion Questions	p. 61
Bibliography and Further Reading	p. 62
Railroads and Telegraph	p. 65
Introduction	p. 65
Turning Point	p. 70
Actual History	p. 73
Alternate History	p. 78
Discussion Questions	p. 81
Bibliography and Further Reading	p. 82
The Texas Revolution	p. 85
Introduction	p. 85
Turning Point	p. 93
Actual History	p. 95
Alternate History	p. 97
Discussion Questions	p. 101
Bibliography and Further Reading	p. 102
The Mexican War	p. 103
Introduction	p. 103
Turning Point	p. 106
Actual History	p. 108
Alternate History	p. 114
Discussion Questions	p. 118
Bibliography and Further Reading	p. 119
The California Gold Rush	p. 121
Introduction	p. 121
Turning Point	p. 123
Actual History	p. 125
Alternate History	p. 131
Discussion Questions	p. 136
Bibliography and Further Reading	p. 137
The Compromise of 1850	p. 139
Introduction	p. 139
Turning Point	p. 142
Actual History	p. 144
Alternate History	p. 148
Discussion Questions	p. 153
Bibliography and Further Reading	p. 153
The Republican Party	p. 155
Introduction	p. 155
Turning Point	p. 158
Actual History	p. 160
Alternate History	p. 168
Discussion Questions	p. 173
Bibliography and Further Reading	p. 173
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates	p. 175
Introduction	p. 175
Turning Point	p. 177
Actual History	p. 180
Alternate History	p. 185
Discussion Questions	p. 189
Bibliography and Further Reading	p. 189
Major Documents Related to Manifest Destiny	p. 191
Louisiana Purchase Treaty: April 30, 1803	p. 191
The Texas Declaration of Independence: March 2, 1836	p. 193
Lincoln-Douglas Debate: August 27, 1858	p. 195
Gadsden Purchase: December 30, 1853	p. 209
Chronology of Manifest Destiny, 1800-1860	p. 213
Resources	p. 225
Index	p. 231
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

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Manifest Destiny and the Expansion of America

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