John O'sullivan Manifest Destiny Analysis
“What does Manifest Destiny mean? How did this philosophy shape America from 1800-1850? Make sure to discuss the Mexican War at some point in your answer.”
In 1845 John L. O'Sullivan began the term "manifest destiny" refering to a growing idea that the United States was commanded by God to “expand throughout North America and exercise hegemony over its neighbors”. Around the time of O'Sullivan's writing, the United States saw an extraordinary territorial growth of 1.2 million square miles, meaning they expanded more than 60% Most of this growth was at the expense of the Native American Nations and Mexicans who had newly received independence. The expansion happened at such a fast pace that people like O'Sullivan thought that even larger
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President James Monroe said that the Americas were "not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers," creating a way for an increasing United States leadership over its neighbors by trying to cut off European influence in the Western Hemisphere. Mexico opened the land for colonization, but the response was so overwhelming that Mexican authorities lost control of the divisions they created. Feeling motivated by the ideas of manifest destiny, the new English-speaking settlers rebelled in 1835 in an attempt to form an independent state. The war ended on 2 February 1848 with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ceding to United States the present-day Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas, and parts of Colorado, Nevada, and Utah. Altered ideas of manifest destiny, combined with other forces of the time, but the Whig Party opposed expansion, believing that the republican experiment in the United States would fail if the nation grew too large. Politicians from the Northeast felt they would lose political power in Congress if the United States admitted more states into the union. Attempts to expand further into Mexico were put to a stop as racism began to come into play. The abolitionists also opposed expansion, particularly if it would bring slave territories into the union. Pacifists became gravely concerned with the casualties of expansion and opposed its violence. Most people
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1287 Words | 6 PagesManifest Destiny was the American belief that expansion in North America was justified and a responsibility(Rohrbough and Nash, 217). Many Southerners and Westerners supported the war and the possibilities of expanding west. Two years later, the U.S. army pushed down to Mexico City and forced the Mexican government to surrender. They signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and ceded 40 percent of its territory, including present day California and Texas. This only fueled America’s desire to acquire more land and fulfill Manifest Destiny(Rohrbough and Nash, 218).
Summary Of Manifest Destiny And American Territorial Expansion
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Occupied America Essay
1906 Words | 8 Pages“According to the theory of Manifest Destiny, the United States was the embodiment of the City of God on Earth and European race were chosen predestined for salvation” (Acuna, 47).The U.S believe it was their faith to spread their principles to the “New World” and the land that was inhabited by Natives did not belong to them since they were a below them. These beliefs are what spark the United States to invade the lands of the Natives and to forcefully teach them “the way of living.” These beliefs are also why white colonists believe Texas belong to them and began the war between Mexico over
How Did Manifest Destiny Affect Mexico
541 Words | 3 PagesManifest destiny also affected the relationship with Mexico. Several factors led to the Mexican- American War in 1846. The factors were that the U.S citizens were moving into California and Mexico. Since there were many revolutions happening in Mexico throughout this time period the Mexican government was not able to protect the U.S citizens in this region. Another factor was that Mexico was upset that Texas declared independence from them and then the U. S annexed Texas in 1845.
Cause And Effect Of Manifest Destiny
2016 Words | 9 Pages“Once we became an independent people it was as much a law of nature that this [control of all of North America] should become our pretension as that the Mississippi should flow to the sea” –John Quincy Adams (Henretta, p. 384). In the 1840s, Americans had a belief that God destined for them to expand their territory all the way westward to the Pacific Ocean. This idea was called Manifest Destiny. In the nineteenth century, Americans were recognized for coming together and building up one another for one cause: westward expansion.
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518 Words | 3 PagesThe annexation of Texas occurred in the early 1800’s. American colonists were expanding into the Northern sector of the Rio Grande, which developed the need for Texas to become a part of the United States. In the South, the people supported the drive toward the annexation of Texas, but the Northerners opposed this idea. Texas was another slave state and the nature of their society did not appear appealing to the North.
Was The Mexican-American War Justified?
1199 Words | 5 PagesThe idea of Manifest Destiny was centered around the idea that God wanted the US to expand as much as possible because the US had a superior way of life. The US justified their cruel actions towards Mexico because they were “destined” to act accordingly. If Americans truly believed that all people were created equal, then Manifest Destiny was not a plausible idea. Manifest Destiny created a hierarchy system in which the US was on top; a hierarchy was the opposite of a society or world where all people were created equal. Therefore, the US did not have such superiority to Mexico that God thought it was acceptable for Americans to act like they were allowed to trample on Mexico’s government
What Effect Did Manifest Destiny Have On African Americans
364 Words | 2 PagesDuring the time Mexico wanted war to prevent the lose of their land. “Mexico has shed American blood on American soil”(JK Polk). After James K Polk’s speech the Mexicans were treated as a not human. “They were treated as a leeser people with no rights(Crash Course). Manifest Destiny had a very negative effect on Mexico in which they lost California and Texas to America they gained more than they lost.
How Did Manifest Destiny Affect Slavery
1562 Words | 7 PagesManifest Destiny and Its Effects on Slavery in America Manifest Destiny was a term first applied by New York Journalist John L. Sullivan in 1845, when he described the idea of the United States continuing to acquire new territory in North America; however, the concept of Manifest Destiny had been applied in principle long before then. From the conception of the United States, Americans believed that their country was one predestined by God to exemplify purity and freedom, and to “manifest to mankind the excellence of divine principles” (O’Sullivan, John L.); therefore, it was their duty to spread this spirit by continuing to gain territory (Foner 339). As the country spread, so did slavery, and the American economy became dependent upon this
Manifest Destiny And The Market Revolution
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Cause And Effect Of Manifest Destiny
930 Words | 4 PagesManifest Destiny was the term used by John O’Sullivan to describe America’s desire to expand West due to reasons including both the vast amount of unclaimed land and the opportunities Americans wanted to explore. During this time, Americans believed that it was their God-given right to expand West, and therefore they were entitled to push away any groups that were in their way. Due to the mindset that the Americans could do as they pleased with the groups of people who got in their way, Manifest Destiny affected many groups of people, including the American Indians and Slaves, and continued to build up the preexisting tension between the North and South. One of the groups of people affected greatly by Manifest Destiny were the Native Americans. Manifest Destiny affected the American Indians by spreading foreign diseases to them as they moved Westward, through the Native American territory.
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