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Manifest Destiny
The idea of Manifest Destiny was originally used by Democrat in the 1840s to justify the war with Mexico. This belief was that American settlers were destined to expand throughout the continent. -
Preemption Act
A statute passed in 1841 by the U.S. Congress to allow squatters to preempt lands. The first preemption laws were passed in 1830 by Congress. This act allowed settlers to stake claims of 160 acres and after 14 months of residency they could buy the land for as little as .25 an acre. -
Kindred Spirits
"Kindred Spirits, 1849."
Asher Brown Durand (1796-1886)
oil on canvas The painting shows a scene in the Catskill Mountains in memorial to artist Thomas Cole who stands with a sketchbook next to William Cullen Bryant. -
Homestead Act
The Homestead Act said that any adult citizen, or intended citizen, who had never borne arms against the U.S. government could claim 160 acres of surveyed government land. After 6 months of residency on the land they could claim a title to the land, for a small fee, and then after 5 years of residency on the land they owned the land. -
View of Mount Washington
"View of Mount Washington, 1864." Alfred Thompson Bricher (1837-1908) oil on canvas Expresses the insignificance of man against the vastness of the frontier. -
Twilight on the Plains, Platte River, Colorado
"Twilight on the Plains, Platte River, Colorado, ca. 1866-1867." Worthington Whittredge (1820-1910)
oil on canvas
The image depicts a Ute Indian encampment and expresses the vastness of the plains using few colors and melding the lines between earth and sky.
