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Westward the Course of Empire Takes its Way | BRIdge From The Past

How does Emanuel Leutze’s “Westward the Course of Empire Takes its Way” portray the concept of Manifest Destiny? In this episode of BRIdge From The Past, Mary explores the massive 1861 mural depicting westward United States expansion that hangs in the U.S. Capitol Building. Commissioned in 1831 and painted in the Capitol Building during the Civil War, the mural features several aspects of the United States' advancement into Western territories and attempts to visualize what is meant by the phrase ‘Manifest Destiny.’ How does each part of this mural work together to give us a glimpse of the complicated history behind Westward expansion and Manifest Destiny?

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American Progress | BRIdge from the Past: Art Across U.S. History

16 Min

If you lived in 1872, would this painting inspire you to pack up and move west? Mary is joined by Jotwan Daniels, 2019 BRI Teacher Council Member and high school teacher in Breckenridge, Colorado, as they explore John Gast's "American Progress" (1872) and America's rapid push westward following the civil war. What does this painting tell you about America's values at the time? Is it really documenting progress for everyone?