Assignment
Chapters 2-3 in Chronicling California address American expansionism and the annexation of California to the United States, fueled by the notion of Manifest Destiny. The other major issue concerns the impact this annexation had both nationally and at the local/individual level, especially in the context of the discovery of gold. We tend to think of these events as givens and often emphasize their positive aspects. Yet, as with any historical event, there are different perspectives on the issues and, depending on whose perspective we look at, the story changes dramatically.
Before you read the primary sources in these two chapters, take a look at the study questions at the end of each chapter; keep them in mind as you are reading through the material. These questions should provide a guideline to construct your discussion post that addresses the meaning and implications of Manifest Destiny and the gold rush. You should provide specific examples from the readings to illustrate your points (remember to cite your sources); you should also consider the ways in which these two events helped shape modern California. In other words, think about the relevance of the past to the present. Your post should reflect on the following issues:
• How did the ideology of Manifest Destiny shape American views of California and Californios?
• What role did this ideology play in the war against Mexico? In what ways did it shape America's treatment of Californios after annexation?
• Do you see any connections between the ideology of Manifest Destiny and the ways in which Americans approached the discovery of gold?
• In what ways did the gold rush itself shape California? The people who came to California for gold?
• What do you see as the legacies of Manifest Destiny and the Gold Rush in California? In other words, how do they shape us even today?