Chapter 17 Study Guide

Directions: Read the following excerpts and write a H.I.P.P. analysis. You will choose one of the
H.I.P.P. tools for your analysis. All responses need to be written as though they were in a DBQ essay.
Watch this VIDEO where I go through the example document and model what your response should
look like. Need a reminder on what H.I.P.P. stands for?

Historical What is happening in the time and place of the document? Consider: year of
Situation the document, related events, disputes related to the document, or the
political, cultural, and economic setting of the document.

Intended Who is the document written to or produced for? Be careful not to identify
Audience too broad a group (i.e. “Americans”). Consider: politicians, editors,
competitors, government officials, opponents, friends, self.

Purpose What is the motivation behind the author writing the document? What do
they hope to achieve? Signal words: intend, content, prove, reason,
objective, propose, enlighten, argue, respond, persuade, dissuade, defend,
criticize

Point of View Why does the author believe what he/she has written or communicated?
Consider: gender, occupation, religion, socio-economic status, race, age,
previous life experiences.

“Y” is this “Y” or how does your chosen analysis tool (H-I-P or P) help you prove your
H.I.P.P. analysis point? How does the document explain or support a historical argument?
Important to Signal words: exemplifies, demonstrates, connects, supports, accentuates,
The argument? highlights, clarifies, provides evidence for

This study guide includes two document sets. Each document set has a guiding prompt to give you
something to tie your response back to. You are not writing a thesis statement. The guiding question
is there to ground your H.I.P.P. analysis. Each response needs to

1. Introduce the document properly

2. Briefly explain the document
3. H.I.P.P the document
4. Tie the H.I.P.P to the prompt (this is the “Y”)
5. Cite the document

Color Code your responses to indicate completion of each step in this process. Again, watch the
video. It will help you understand.
 Document Set A:

Guiding Question: To what extent did political, economic, and social

changes contribute to a new era of expansion under the banner of
Manifest Destiny after 1800?

Example document used in the instruction video:

Document 0

John L. O'Sullivan on Manifest Destiny, 1839 Excerpted from "The Great Nation of Futurity," The
United States Democratic Review, Volume 6, Issue 23, pp. 426-430.

(America’s) national birth was the beginning of a new history, the formation and progress of an untried
political system, which separates us from the past and connects us with the future only; and so far as
regards the entire development of the natural rights of man, in moral, political, and national life, we
may confidently assume that our country is destined to be the great nation of futurity.

The far-reaching, the boundless future will be the era of American greatness. In its magnificent
domain of space and time, the nation of many nations is destined to manifest to mankind the
excellence of divine principles; to establish on earth the noblest temple ever dedicated to the worship
of the Most High -- the Sacred and the True.

Yes, we are the nation of progress, of individual freedom, of universal enfranchisement. … We must
look forward to the fulfilment of our mission -- to the entire development of the principle of our
organization -- freedom of conscience, freedom of person, freedom of trade and business pursuits,
universality of freedom and equality… For this blessed mission to the nations of the world, which are
shut out from the life-giving light of truth, has America been chosen; and her high example shall smite
unto death the tyranny of kings, hierarchs, and oligarchs… Who, then, can doubt that our country is
destined to be the great nation of futurity?

In the piece written by John L. O’Sullivan published in “The Great

Introduce the document Nation of Futurity”, he writes about America’s future and his belief that
properly the nation is destined for greatness. He explains America’s mission as
being Godly, and pushes the notion that the nation can only achieve its
Briefly explain the true purpose through expansionism. O’Sullivan’s language is very
document reminiscent of John Wintrop’s City Upon a Hill in 1630 and it is likely
O’Sullivan was attempting to draw upon long-standing confidence in
H.I.P.P. the document American Exceptionalism to justify westward movement and his belief
in Manifest Destiny. Rapid westward movement and the consolidation
Tie the H.I.P.P. to the of new North American lands was controversial in the 1840s and 1850s
prompt (this is the “Y”) due to the slavery debate. Thus, O’’Sullivan’s notion of “Manifest
Destiny” gave many Americans a non-political reason to support
Cite the document westward movement in this era (doc. 0).
 Document 1

“Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way”, by Emanuel Leutze. Commissioned by
Congress in 1860. The mural is displayed behind the western staircase of the House of
Representatives chamber in the United States Capitol Building.

#1.

In Emanuel Leutze’s mural named “Westward Course of Empire Takes

Introduce the document Its Way”, a group of pioneers are depicted as they’re traveling
properly westward towards a seemingly optimistic glowing sunset. This glowing
light suggests a brighter and more promising future for these people
Briefly explain the as they follow what they believe to be the will of God by going west.
document Leutze’s intent with this was to show that the movement westward was
the will of God, and that expansion is the way to a brighter future and
H.I.P.P. the document to progress. Traveling for many miles west was treacherous, but this
religious motivator that the path westward was the path God wanted
Tie the H.I.P.P. to the Americans to take that is shown in Leutze’s painting was one of the
prompt (this is the “Y”) social reasons that people felt pressured to travel west under this
banner of manifest destiny. (doc 1).
Cite the document
 Document 2

Across the Plains in 1844 by Catherine Sager Pringle (c. 1860). Pringle, her parents, and her
siblings traveled from Missouri to Oregon in 1844.

“August 1st we nooned in a beautiful grove on the north side of the Platte. We had by this time got
used to climbing in and out of the wagon when in motion. When performing this feat that afternoon my
dress caught on an axle helve and I was thrown under the wagon wheel, which passed over and
badly crushed my limb before father could stop the team. He picked me up and saw the extent of the
injury when the injured limb hung dangling in the air.”

“In a broken voice he exclaimed: "My dear child, your leg is broken all to pieces!" The news soon
spread along the train and a halt was called. A surgeon was found and the limb set; then we pushed
on the same night to Laramie, where we arrived soon after dark. This accident confined me to the
wagon the remainder of the long journey.”

#2.

Across the Plains, a book by Catherine Sager Pringle, documents

Introduce the document Catherine’s journey west during the Westward Expansion. In this
properly particular passage, she documents her negative experience of injuring
her leg as her family was in a hurry to continue their travels west. The
Briefly explain the intended audience of her book was anyone thinking of traveling west.
document She highlights that the hurry of traveling west for prosperity, people
neglected possible dangers and perils until it was too late. This was a
H.I.P.P. the document social factor that may have persuaded people not to follow manifest
destiny so blindly, and not to put what some claimed God wanted over
Tie the H.I.P.P. to the one’s one self interests and wellbeing. So this book’s social impact
prompt (this is the “Y”) may have drawn away from progress created by manifest destiny. (doc
2).
Cite the document

Document 3

Daniel Dickerson, U.S. Senator (N.Y.) in a speech before Congress January 12, 1848.

"The tide of emigration and the course of empire have since been westward. Cities and towns have
sprung up upon the shores of the Pacific . . .New territory is spread out for us to subdue and fertilize;
new races are presented for us to civilize, educate and absorb; new triumphs for us to achieve for the
cause of freedom. North America... is soon to become the commercial center of the world... united in
one political system: a free, self-governed Republic."
#3

In U.S. Senator Daniel Dickerson’s speech to Congress, he conveys the

Introduce the document economic gains of moving westward to Congress while also saying that
properly it would benefit those that he deemed “uncivilized” as they would
assimilate and become American. In Daniel Dickerson’s perspective,
Briefly explain the maybe the religious motives of the westward expansion weren’t as
document important, as he instead focused more on how the movement westward
would benefit the United States’ commerce and economy. The fact that
H.I.P.P. the document the land already belonged to indigenous people didn’t matter as much to
him because in his mind, the land was his for the taking, and the
Tie the H.I.P.P. to the indigenous people were simply in the way. He even believed that by
prompt (this is the “Y”) helping propel the movement west that it would help the indigenous
people and civilize them. Dickerson’s belief that the movement westward
Cite the document would improve the economy of the United States helped portray how
many American’s believed that expanding westward would not only
satisfy the idea of “manifest destiny” but would also fuel America and
serve to make her a stronger nation. (doc 3).

Document Set B

Guiding Question: Analyze the extent to which the Mexican-American

War promoted the national interests of the United States.

Document 4

Excerpt of letter by William Lloyd Garrison, 1847

We are in good spirits, and serene as heaven itself, though the opposition is still formidable…
especially in regard to the atrocious war with Mexico. It is certainly not a popular war; it was begun
and is carried on against the deep moral conviction of the sober portion of the people; its real object,
the extension and preservation of slavery, no intelligent man honestly doubts; still, the diabolical
motto, “our country, right or wrong…
#4

In William Lloyd Garrison’s 1847 letter, he expressed his negative views

Introduce the document on the war in Mexico. He expresses in his letter that the war was
properly barbaric and was a discussion of slavery as well as unjust imperialism.
He clearly has several moral complications with the war and is
Briefly explain the expressing his viewpoint directly through this letter. In Garrison’s point
document of view, the Mexican-American war was a barbaric war that was only
fought for selfish reasons. Garrison’s point of view conveys that the
H.I.P.P. the document Mexican-American war was not fought with the national interests of the
United States being taken into account because Garrison feels that the
Tie the H.I.P.P. to the war isn’t popular and many of his peers have issues with the war as
prompt (this is the “Y”) well.

Cite the document

Document 5

José Joaquín de Herrera, acting President of the Republic of Mexico, 1845

A Proclamation Denouncing America’s Intention to Annex Texas, June 4, 1845.

[T]he congress of the United States of the North has . . . resolved to incorporate the territory of Texas
with the American union . . . [T]his manner of appropriating [giving] to itself territories upon which
other nations have rights, endangering the peace of the world and violating the sovereignty of nations
. . . It...attacks all the rights that Mexico has to that territory, is an insult to her dignity as a sovereign
nation, and threatens her independence and political existence . . .

#5

In José Joaquín de Herrera’s proclamation, he publicly denounces the

Introduce the document intention of the United States to annex Texas and claims that America is
properly violating the idea that nations should be sovereign. The state of Texas
had declared itself independent in 1836 after a brutal war for
Briefly explain the independence with Mexico. The people of “The Republic of Texas”
document wanted to become a state in the United States as they were small and
fragile on their own, but the divided U.S.A was very indecisive of whether
H.I.P.P. the document or not Texas should become a state. Mexico, on the other hand, was
hoping to take Texas back before the Americans could sink their claws
Tie the H.I.P.P. to the into it. The acting President of the Republic of Mexico’s speech depicts
prompt (this is the “Y”) that he and the rest of Mexican officials felt threatened by the war and
threatened by the idea of Texas becoming a state. They were threatened
 Cite the document because the United States’ national interest of annexing Texas meant
that the country was becoming more powerful. (doc 5).

Document 6

John C. Calhoun - Letter to W.R. King August 12th, 1844 (Printed publically)

“It is impossible to cast a look at the map of the United States and Texas….without coming to the
conclusion that it is their destiny to be united in institutions, laws and inhabitants...It is our destiny to
occupy that vast region; to intersect it with roads and canals; to fill it with cities, towns, villages, and
farms; to extend over it our religion, customs, constitution and laws; and to present it as a peaceful
and splendid addition to the domains of commerce and civilization. It is our policy to increase, by
growing and spreading out into unoccupied regions, assimilating all those we incorporate; in a word,
to increase by accretion [addition/extension], and not through conquest…”

#6

In John C. Calhoun’s letter to W.R King that was eventually published,

Introduce the document he explains his views that Texas should be a state. He claims that it is
properly the destiny of Americans to make this new state like all the others, and
that it is the duty of the general public to expand borders. When this
Briefly explain the letter was published, it was clear that John C. Calhoun was attempting
document to speak to the American people and convince them that Texas should
be annexed. He touches on the religious idea of “manifest destiny”
H.I.P.P. the document while also providing evidence that Texas’ annexation would
economically and socially benefit the United States. James C.
Tie the H.I.P.P. to the Calhoun’s approach that progress would be made if Texas was
prompt (this is the “Y”) annexed clearly depicts that the war with Mexico occured because the
people of the United States were concerned with their own interests of
Cite the document prosperity, and were willing to go to the extreme lengths of war to find
the progress they so craved. (doc 6).