While the settlers of the American West were changing the territorial landscape based on the idea of manifest destiny, another change was taking place: the cultural and social landscape of western America was beginning to take shape. A "western" culture emerged because life in the West was different from life in any other part of the United States.

The American Indians of the West found themselves pushed off their lands, and they became the focus of those who wanted to "civilize" them. Some religious groups took the idea of manifest destiny and applied it to the conversion of American Indians to Christianity.

American settlers coming from the east and immigrant settlers coming from Asia, Europe, and Latin America also added to the cultural landscape of the American West. Each person contributed to the overall culture of the new land.

Take another look at John Gast's American Progress. Complete the chart that follows based on what you observe in the painting.

Source: American Progress, George Crofutt, Library of Congress

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List the People

• Farmers
• American Indians
• Families
• Miners
• Goddess

What do you notice about the people?

• The people are all moving westward.
• The goddess is carrying the telegraph wire westward.

List the objects

• Telegraph wire
• Wagons
• Trains
• Ships

What do you notice about the objects?

• The telegraph wire is being laid across the west.
• Wagons are headed westward.
• Trains are headed westward.
• Ships remain east of the movement of the trains and wagons.

List the animals

• Buffalo
• Horses
• Dogs

What did you notice about the animals?

• Buffalo are headed west in a herd.
• Horses are pulling wagons.
• Dogs are walking alongside people.

List the colors

• White
• Brown
• Green
• Red

What did you notice about the color?

• The color white is found closest to the sky (clouds, the goddess, and tops of mountains).
• The color brown is found on the animals.
• The color green is found closest to the water.
• The color red is found on clothing and wagon.

Think about what you have learned about the idea of manifest destiny and answer the questions below in your notes.

1. What might the painter think about the idea of manifest destiny? Support your answer with examples from the painting.

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   The painter might have thought that manifest destiny was good for America. The painting illustrates people from all walks of life migrating west.

2. How does the painting glorify the ideal of manifest destiny?

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   The painting glorifies the ideal of manifest destiny because it illustrates the goddess leading people westward as she brings new sources of technology. This indicates that the migration is an example of progress.

3. How does the painting detract from the ideal of manifest destiny?

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   The painting may detract from the ideal of manifest destiny by illustrating that westward migration is displacing existing populations of American Indians and the wildlife they traditionally hunted.