During this period, Americans believed in what was eventually called "Manifest Destiny." The idea that it was the destiny of American citizens to settle and annex all the land in its territories between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. This led to the settlement of lands previously protected under treaties. The outright breaking of treaties, and the forced relocation of trials. Several 'plans wars ' were also fought by the U.S. military. These were largely skirmishes between natives and the much better armed U.S. troops and several 'battles ' were actually massacres and officers were sometimes rewarded for their brutality. As the 1900 's came on, so did the idea that the natives needed to be 'Americanized '. Many Americans feared
American foreign policy during the years 1845-1900 was Manifest Destiny. Manifest Destiny describes what most of the Americans believed in the 19th Century that, it was America’s responsibility to expand westward, and occupy the whole continental nation including Mexico and Canada. This foreign policy turned into American Imperialism, and how America acquired Hawaii, Alaska and led to Cuban Revolution 1953-1959. Manifest Destiny was first used by John O’Sullivan; he supported expansionist agenda of President James K. Polk from 1845-1849. President James K. Polk wanted to expand America westward, “He wanted to officially claim the southern part of Oregon Territory; annex the whole of the American Southwest from Mexico; and annex Texas” (Jones 1).
Due to the reaffirmation of American independence by the War of 1812 and a tenacious feeling of nationalism, the United States craved more land; therefore, after the acquisition of land from the Mexican Cession, many felt America’s Manifest Destiny had made a significant step toward complete fulfillment. The American desire to expand westward- known as Manifest Destiny- was at its height during the nineteenth century. This aspiration spurred many political debates such as the following: slavery, Native American territory, and land claims. The moral aspects of these aforementioned controversies were periodically obscure, yet more frequently were they a minor factor in political opinion. Many original ideals emerged during these debates, and
Amanda Martin Mr. Gubellini Humanities I Honors February 15th, 2015 Manifest Destiny In the 1800’s the United States did not only torture and remove the Native Americans from their homelands, they also decided to come up with an excuse called “manifest destiny” to make their expansion westward and taking some of Mexico’s land seem like it was acceptable. Surely enough it did not come without a price. We would have never achieved manifest destiny if it wasn’t for the Texas Revolution, the Annexation of Texas, the Mexican-American War, the Bear Flag Revolt, and conflicts with that Native Americans.
Manifest Destiny is the belief or doctrine about the US expansion. It is the assumption that white Americans were “special people” and this came back from the beliefs of the puritans. This doctrine influenced the the settlement of the west because it let white Americans believe that they could control the natives. This doctrine influenced the settlement to the west because it made the migration more likely. Americans attitude towards this was that they thought they deserved all the land.
The United States was unjust in achieving Manifest Destiny. Manifest Destiny had a strong influence and was one of the reasons why Americans supported for US expansion. The US felt that they were justified in achieving Manifest Destiny because this notion “offered a moral justification for territorial expansion” (466). However, what they did was unfair because they took control over Mexican territories that wasn’t theirs in the first place. President Polk lust for new land gave him motives in seizing Texas from Mexico.
If you are like me you do not know what manifest destiny but after this essay you will know just like I do. Manifest Destiny is a nineteenth century American belief that people had the right to expand throughout the american continent. An example of Manifest Destiny is the belief by President Polk's administration that the U.S. should expand throughout the continent. Many English Americans of various ethnics agreed with O'Sullivan's view. O’Sullivan said in 1845 in to a new york newspaper reporter that it was a God given destiny for the united states to spread all over North America.
The year 1845, the American newspaper editor John O’Sullivan first coined the phrase, “Manifest Destiny”. This term is the belief that the United States should expand their territory from coast to coast. The Americans thought God was in their favor and should have the ability to take land. Without a doubt, might does not make right since the Americans did not have the right to be justified in the American acquisition of Texas and Mexico. The Americans were invited by the Mexican government to trade and settle in the northern territory, under these circumstances: learn Spanish, adopt the Roman Catholic religion and bring no slave nor democracy, which was not followed by the Americans.
Manifest Destiny is a unique, yet mysterious fundamental series of events in American history. No other country’s history contains such an eventful history as the United States. Amy Greenberg’s book, Manifest Destiny and American Territorial Expansion, provides documented evidence that settlers believed they were destined for expansion throughout the continent. In other words, many religious settlers believed that it was a call from God for the United States to expand west. On the other hand, people believed that Manifest Destiny vindicated the war against Mexico.
“Manifest Destiny,” written by John L. O’Sullivan, explains how expansion is needed for america and how it could better our nation. The painting “American Progress,”supports expansion by displaying what it looked like when the settlers moved in. The text, “Reporting to the President, September 23-December 31,1806,” by Stephen Ambrose, supports westward expansion by talking about how lewis and Clarke did good things to help westward expansion. What do you think about westward expansion?
Now, on to our business for the week. Only two more weeks and we will be finished with our course. As the course starts to wind down, America is just winding up!
Timothy Diyanov 6/12/23 Social Studies/English Language Arts Ms.Cordell / Mr.Van Zweeden Manifest Destiny Manifest Destiny… you probably thought you were reading a fantasy novella, but actually, Manifest Destiny was a very important and positive point in American History. It acted like bedrock and a springboard for American society as a whole and effectively brought us to our current greatness. Manifest Destiny (also known as Westward Expansion) was a belief that it was the destiny of the United States to have control over the entire continent, not only the eastern shore, and it all began in 1803 with the Louisiana purchase, and after some time, ended with the civil war. Even
“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.
A wide range of Americans politicians, regular Americans, church leaders benefited from Manifest Destiny by gaining land and having the chance to share the American culture. They had the idea to spread democracy by taking over the land. They had a great idea but the execution wasn't well thought. You can't just kick the Native Americans out of their home and expect them to be ok with it. Making the American culture expanded is fine but it felt like they were trying to get rid of the Native American culture and make them accustomed to the culture, thoughts, and customs of the Americans.
The Market Revolution generated a drastic change in the United States economy and altered gender barriers while at the same time accomplishing this in a provocative manner. This economic boom occurred around the first half of the 19th Century. The economic boom was achieved by inventions such as a transcontinental railroad system which resulted in a better transportation system which improved trade and the cotton gin which sped up the rate of removing seeds from cotton fiber. However like what the great Hugo said, “The brutalities of progress are called revolutions. When they are over we realize this: that the human race has been roughly handled, but that it has advanced”.
Manifest 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.