Read Henretta, Ch. 13. Also, for today’s blog assignment, please view John Gast’s painting American Progress and analyze it in the context of westward expansion, especially in the context of “Manifest Destiny,” the idea that it was inevitable and desirable for the U.S. to expand across the American frontier. What clues do you see in the painting?
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msouther
#1 by Nick Anthony on November 3, 2009 - 6:11 pm
The idea that westward expansion was inevitable it led to believe by the angel floating at the top of the screen, almost usher the people to the west. The western part of the picture is also dark and mysterious, whereas the eastern side of the picture already has settlements up and the sun is shining. It also appears as if there are a bunch of people living on the eastside and they are wanting to expand to the west for more territory. The idea that they would actually stay in the eastern part of the land is almost ridiculous, as there seems to be more to explore with the different looking sky and wild animals roaming in the picture.
#2 by John Winzig on November 10, 2009 - 11:33 am
This painting by John Gast holds a variety of clues and symbols that clearly highlight the many ideas of Manifest Destiny and America’s expansion westward. On the left section of the painting, Native Americans are retreating westward in the wake of scores of settlers bearing new technologies that were a result of the Market and Industrial Revolutions. The bright female figure in the center, representing the American spirit of expansion, is trailing a telegraph line across the Great Plains. Trains and carriages travel out of the ports in the east to a foreboding mountainous west. This scene shows two consequences. The more obvious one is the unity of American spirit, how everyone is united in their pursuit of potential riches and happiness in the west. But, as mentioned earlier, they seem to have now qualms with chasing Indians and wildlife, (the buffaloes were hunted to near extinction by the 1870s).
#3 by Bob Mastronicola on November 10, 2009 - 10:01 pm
The painting shows a angel like woman in the air wearing white holding a spool of telephone wire. I believe this lady is the United States, looking to the west with grace and calm. The telephone wire and trains don’t have tracks or poles, they just stopped, showing that they anticipate continuing to the west. There are settlers and farmers in the frame. The indians look like they are fleeing from the wagontrains. The skys are dark to the west and the animal are running.
I believe the overall theme to the painting is “We are moving west at all cost, but we are doing it for all the right reasons”
#4 by Tom Jaracz on November 12, 2009 - 2:12 pm
After looking at the painting one can see that there are many clues that suggest that westward expansion was desirable for the US. One of the more notable clues is the angel in the sky moving westward carrying the electrical line, this almost suggests that westward expansion is seen as great thing and that as the country expands west things get better. The picture shows how things are getting better as people move westward by having the very left of the painting be dark while everything behind continues to get lighter in the areas that are already settled or in the process of being settled. In addition the painting also shows Indians being run off the land, this I feel, shows the viewer that no matter who it affected the US was not afraid to stop at anything in order to expand once again reinforcing the point that westward expansion was inevitable. The point of “Manifest Destiny” being desirable can be seen in the bottom middle of the screen where a few men have weapons and what appears to be a pick axe, as we later know there was a gold rush in California so the thought of natural resources would make westward expansion desirable. Finally, in the bottom right of the picture there appears to be two people with their own land and home which would also make expansion desirable since people could have large plots of land to do whatever farming, etc they felt like.
#5 by Michelle Taylor on November 12, 2009 - 2:59 pm
The term Manifest Destiny refers to the territorial expansion of the continental US after the War of 1812 up to the time if the Civil War. The painting by John Gast, American Progress incorporates many interpretations as to how the idea of Manifest Destiny was desirable during this time period. The woman in the painting is Columbia, intended to be a personification of the United States. My first impression from this painting was that it could represent the idea of women’s rights taking off. Although that may be true, the picture signifies much more.
The idea of westward expansion in the United States could only bring good things. In the painting Columbia is elevated above, leading the way. She interacted with a phone line and is holding a text book. Both details indicate that if she is followed westward education and technology will soon follow. Also in the background, many different types of classes of people can be noticed, in addition to modernization of transportation. All of which suggest that westward expansion would lead to modernization of the United States.
Last, you can also see that in the background the Native Americans and wild animals are fleeing. This indicates that with westward expansion gains the chance of over ruling the Natives and ultimately spreading republican democracy, to sum it up. Moving west would allow more space and opportunity to flourish as an independent country. It also boosted the economy. Large plots of land became available for minimal amounts of money. This availability of land encouraged those living in the crowded east to move west to flourish off their new land. Manifest Destiny gave new light and hope to America.
#6 by Cassie Carnabuci on November 12, 2009 - 4:39 pm
Manifest Destiny is the “idea that it was inevitable and desirable for the U.S. to expand across the American frontier.” John Gast’s painting, American Progress depicts Manifest Destiny in many ways. The painting “instills a sense of uplift” and projects an idea of American greatness. Manifest Destiny gives a sense of racial superiority and American culture. Gast’s painting shows the Native Americans being chased from their home, and in reality Native Americans and Mexicans were dominated by Americans. Trains and maybe electrical lines imply that industrialism would follow if they moved west.
#7 by Nick Durda on November 12, 2009 - 7:35 pm
In the painting American Progress, it symbolizes all that encompasses the westward expansion. Clearly in the picture you see Native Americans running away from the new settlers. The expansion of train building is symbolized by three railroads moving westward. Along with people, technology and cities all moving in the direction of the Rocky Mountains.
In regards to Manifest Destiny, there is a angel figure that is helping move the people westward. This symbolizes the idea that was formed in the 1840s and during the second great awakening, that Americans were chosen by God to rule over all of the North American lands. Along with this idea of been chosen by God, people also believed they were to get rid of the Native Americans on those lands, that was “rightfully” theirs, and this is shown in the painting with the natives running away from it all.
#8 by Andrea Phillips on November 12, 2009 - 7:45 pm
The idea of “Manifest Destiny” was that it was America’s duty to expand westward, and make it into an acceptable society. The floating woman is the most obvious clue in the painting that leads to the idea of ” Manifest Destiny” . The woman leading the Americans westward appears to be like an angel ,and by creating her that way the illustrator suggests the Americans were saving the west, and making it into a better place. The angelic woman also is carrying a wire, suggesting the industrialization of the west. The left side of the illustration contains clouds that are dark and gloomy. However the clouds and sky on the right side of the painting (where the Americans are) is bright and full of life.By making the sky appear that way, the person looking at the picture would believe that the Americans were kind and people full of life. Another clue in the picture that helped support the idea of Manifest Destiny was the Indians and animals who were moving further westward because of the Americans westward expansion.
#9 by Joe Lauria on November 12, 2009 - 7:57 pm
When I look at the painting by John Gast it is hard to miss the angel in the middle of the screen. To me that shows that it is meant for the Americans to move westward. Also they Indians are on their horses running away from the Americans who are just walking while being lead by the Angel. Americans had this thought that the land is theirs and it is God’s will that they live on it. Which by the angel leading the way implies that God is helping them move westward uprooting the Indians.
Another thing I had noticed was behind the Americans. Whenever they walk over the land it is getting more advanced. A railroad is in the background, maybe even a little colony by the water. This symbolizes what the Americans thought about themselves. It makes them seeing superior to the Indians which is what they believed.
#10 by Nick Schuur on November 12, 2009 - 9:59 pm
In the painting I notice a few aspects that show me why it was desirable for westward expansion. It shows that they are going to farm and possibly interested in the cattle out west also. In the painting it also shows a lady traveling west stringing wire for communication and carrying a book. I also notice the railroads traveling west which shows me this would bring more industry and modernization to the west.
#11 by Lindsey on November 12, 2009 - 10:04 pm
When I look at this artwork it relates to Manifest Density becuase it show that the “women” in the picture is leading the men westward to new land. Another thing that this picture shows is all of the new adavances in technology they were having in this time. Such as the telegraph lines they have in the very back of the artwork. this could show that they were trying to connect the people from the east to the new comers to the west. And the last thing that really sticks out to me was the three different types of transportation they had. The first one being the horses. This was their very first type of transporatation. And then there is the type of wagon they used for transportation on the Orgeon Trail. And the third thing I see is the horse drawn carraige. To me this shows that they were making advances in how they were getting from place to place hoping it would make things easier.
And the “women” looks like she is holding a type of book. Maybe this could mean that the settlers were bringing education with them to the new west.
#12 by Erin Thomas on November 12, 2009 - 10:42 pm
In the “American Progress” painting we can see clues that idea of westward expansion was evitable. The angel, or maybe she is the lady of justice, (I’m not sure, her eyes are closed, usually this signifies blind justice including the star on her head) is holding the telephone wire dragging “industrial growth to expand into the stormy unknown side of the west. It’s stormy, dark clouds could be interpreted to mean that it was an area that was unknown. It was an area that was unsure of which republican traditions would be systemized. We see plain farmer families migrating westward, as well as indians. Some people are slowly walking and others are fleeing. Trains are also another symbol of the industrial migration.
#13 by Amy Hull on November 12, 2009 - 11:48 pm
In the 19th Century, the United States sought to expand its cultural identity across North America. By imposing American civilization across the continent, the United States asserted itself both economically and culturally. This picture depicts an angel-like figure leading American settlers westward as she is stringing along telegraphic wire, followed by railroad and other forms of 19th Century progress. The angel represents that Americans from the East were ordained to colonize the West. This is further suggested by the dark sky in the West being pushed aside from the light in the East. The photograph strongly suggests it was acceptable that Native Americans and their livestock be forced off their land so Americans can declare title to the United States.
#14 by Britny Snodgrass on November 13, 2009 - 1:51 am
The painting shows that many people in the US desired westward expansion. The first thing I noticed was the angel carrying the electrical line. This might suggests that great things will come of westward expansion. Also the painting is dark on the left and lighter in settled areas. This suggests that things are better in the west. The Indians running off the land in the picture shows that the US is not afraid of anyone who tries to stop them from expanding.The point of “Manifest Destiny” being desirable can be seen in the bottom middle. The men have weapons which lead others to believe westward expansion would lead to more natural resources. Lastly in the bottom right of the picture there are 2 people with their own home which makes expansion desirable since people could have their own home and land too
#15 by Nate Hottinger on November 13, 2009 - 3:58 am
In the painting, I think the woman represents the United States, pushing her people(represented by the trains and the white men) westward. The left side of the painting is depicted with dark clouds, and is probably representing the unknown lands as dangerous and something in need of conquering. She has telephone wire in her hand, apparently stringing it as she moves. The Native Americans also seem to flee from her and the settlers. The painting depicts the taking of westward lands not only as natural, but as even being divinely ordained, with the United States looking very angel like.
#16 by msouther on November 13, 2009 - 8:07 am
[For Mike Santora] The painting by John Gast makes the american west seem warm and inviting. It make it look like the journey west will not take that long and that coast to coast, it is not that far. The indians in the picture are waving to the new settlers. According to the painting their is no danger. All that awaits settlers are golden lands, friendly natives, and the beautiful west coast.
The painting also speaks strongly of manifest destiny. The angel seems to be leading the settlers west. It is as if God is saying these lands are yours for the taking. In fact, shes even laying the telegraph wires down for the settlers. Anyone who saw this painting would believe they were meant to take the land that lays to the west.
#17 by msouther on November 13, 2009 - 8:08 am
[For Bill Donelon] Manifest Destiny was the belief in the 19th century that America was destined to expand across the continent. In this painting by John Gast, he depicts this idea of “Manifest Destiny.” The scene is painted with the pioneers following what appears to be a woman who represents liberty. It is clear that these pioneers are moving out west with wagons, tools, livestock, and also the railroads. Also, the Native Americans are depicted fleeing from the pioneers and being booted off their lands. Looking closely, it appears that there are ships in the background and the lady is holding a book. This book may represent the reforms of this time period that took place such as education and the creation of schools. This book in her hand could have several meanings. Also, the ships in the background could simply be depicting the pioneers leaving the east coast behind them.