Literature has been among the greatest influences upon American patriotism, and how our Nation classifies 'true Americanism'. Yet when one looks at what categorizes literature as 'American,' the definition may seem abstract. Yet there several key points as to why certain literary pieces are regarded as American, whereas others are discounted. This essay will discuss how ‘manifest destiny’ helps one to identify our patriotic literature, how the literature openly exposes both the flaws and strengths of our nation and people, and how American literature connects its people together—even when otherwise it may not be possible. For examples I am using the poems “Theme for English B” and “I, Too” by Langston Hughes, “Chicago” by Carl Sandburg, and “America” by Claude McKay. …show more content…
In the poem I, Too, Langston Hughes is expressing Manifest Destiny; the narrator’s fervent certainty that he will, one day, be equivalent with the white race; “Tomorrow/ I’ll be at the table/when company comes” (pp. 1038, 8-10). He is certain of his equality with the white man, and retains the belief that things will change, thereby articulating a form of Manifest Destiny. This manner of Manifest Destiny is also implied at within the poem Chicago; “Under the terrible burden of destiny laughing as some young man/ laughs” shows that the city of Chicago, one of the largest cities within America at the time, has had destiny placed upon its shoulders (pp. 774, 17-18). That destiny is to be above other towns, to be proud of what Chicago
In 1845, the idea of Manifest Destiny was created by John O’Sullivan. Manifest Destiny continued to have a large impact on the development of the U.S. Furthermore, Manifest Destiny helped unite the U.S. through the common goal to expand, however, it further developed the split on slavery. Documents one, four, and six show that Manifest destiny led to a common goal to expand westward, specifically, unifying whig and democratic parties to a common objective. The first document was from a Whig journal and it is clear that he was for expansion,” the natural progress of events will undoubtedly give us that province[California]”(document one).
The writings of Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson provide examples that address the essential question ‘What makes American literature American?”. During the Founding Fathers time period, American literature was based on logic, unifying as a nation and the Founding Fathers beliefs that the nation should be independent from England. In Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention” he explains to the delegates why America needs a militia to protect themselves against Britain. The ending of Henry’s speech was very emotional because he compares the rich white delegates of being slaves under King Henry. Henry makes a bold statement of his feelings by saying, “I know not what others may take, but as for me give me liberty, or give me death!”(107).
The United States became a continental nation by the Westward expansion regarding annexations, purchases, lands ceded, treaties, and the manifest destiny. United States were able to fulfill the manifest destiny, the belief that says US is clearly meant to expand to the Pacific. This belief was pleased by various annexations, purchases, lands ceded, and treaties. Texas was annexed to the US when Sam Houston tricked US that Texas might become allies with Britain. Several purchases helped manifest destiny come true.
"Manifest destiny" enlightened Americans to their right of land. It was the explanation for the war that the Mexicans could not control their extra land, so it was the right of the Americans to control it for them. When Stephen Austin and his settlers settled in Texas, it showed that the Mexican Government could not handle the extra territory. In order to get even with Mexico after the Alamo war was a necessity. Polk tried time and time again to negotiate peace but his vision of a better America and respected stubbornness allowed him to keep his mind set for the interest of the American people.
He was a highly devoted man who entered the presidency with an unambiguous plan, setting out five main goals which he successfully executed in only one term in office (Bockert par. 13). Although the incessant pressure of American westward expansion had temporarily accumulated itself behind the Great Plains, it was now about to erupt with a deluge unlike any previous occurrence (Woodworth 59; "Expansion to the Mississippi"). A new start beyond the Western horizon would prove to be crucial to Americans so Polk became determined to use the concept of Manifest Destiny. This concept proved to prompt the American westward movement and lead to a flow of immigrants, and as portrayed in the figure above, to have a massive effect on the population of
The manifest Destiny is a nineteenth-century belief that the United States were destined to expand west across the North America continent. In which they would claim the land, and spread their form of freedom, culture, and democracy. Many believed the mission was inspired to them by god, while others felt it was more of a selfless right to expand the territory of liberty. This mission led Americans to move and develop the land from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.
“Manifest Destiny” is a phrase that perfectly sums up the American experience in the early 19th century. During this time, Americans were moving west with the idea that they had the god given right to do so and this idea didn’t stop there. Continuing into the American imperialism ages of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the United States never abandoned the “justification” given to them by God and used this to drive their expansion into foreign nations and beyond, as stated in Document B. It could be argued that the expansion of the late 1800s and early 1900s is a continuation of the previous westward expansion, but many aspects of expansion changed during this time as well. Obviously, the expansion of the early 19th century and
How do you think manifest destiny set the stage for American imperialism at the end of the century? – Manifest destiny set the stage for American imperialism because in believing that expansion of the United States was justified and inevitable, we believed that whatever we did to expand was justified. Even if it meant using force to take more land. What were the motivations for manifest destiny?
The concept of the manifest destiny was to make and have America be just one big continent with overtaking Mexico and Canada but as we can see now it did not happen. The causes and effects of Cherokee Nation being removed was when they had them move many died, from traveling they would die of hunger, thirst, and ambush them why they would be traveling. Another cause and effect was with the removal of the Native Americans they would force them to have to completely leave some people left each other, or got lost with all the chaos on wanting to quickly leave. Basically, America came in and took over Indian Territory George Washington did not discover America because America had already belonged to the Native Americans so, America came in and
The justifications of terra nullius, manifest destiny, the vanishing indigene, and fatal impact affect the type of race relations found in a society. According to terra nullius, the justification that was used was that it’s just “empty land, and that nobody lives there.” This affects the type of race relations found in a society because people who migrate or colonize in other places use this as their justification for staying there. The justification for manifest destiny was that “god, history, fate ordained them to control this land.” This affects the type of race relations because in the case of the Europeans and the Native Indians, this is what the Europeans used to justify their colonization in America.
The Manifest Destiny ideology, that it was a divinely ordained right and destiny for America to expand westward, towards the Pacific Ocean, was protracted throughout the nineteenth century. Oregon, which was in part occupied by England and in part by the U.S., and the lands owned by Mexico, were an obstacle to such expansion and, consequently, to the economic development. The presidential candidate James K. Polk, guided by the ideology of Manifest Destiny, promised that, if elected, he would push the United States territory westward. His campaign slogan for the occupation of Oregon was “Fifty-four forty or fight”, which was the north latitude that he intended to occupy. In 1846, Great Britain agreed to set the border at the 49th parallel.
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?
Independence from Great Britain was a milestone leading the Americans to building and excel in establishing the United States of America as a country in a whole. Americans felt as if it was their abounding duties to expand westward and settle throughout North America. The term of Manifest Destiny first came about in 1845 by journalist John L. O’Sullivan. O’Sullivan used the term to acknowledge the Americans expansion westward as a “God given” right. The process of Manifest Destiny from 1783 to 1870 promoted development and expansion westward to help form the United States as it is today.
Migrations from different countries led The United States of America to become a melting pot, a pot which contains a variety of people and their cultures all around the globe. Therefore, their cultural development process in terms of art and politics affected the world and us itself. Throughout the history of The United States of American, there were many movies, singers and political events that represented their culture to the world. But in this very paper, in terms of representing the U.S. with its culture, I will point out the significances of the movie Saving Private Ryan, the singer Louis Daniel Armstrong, and political event The Emancipation Proclamation. American patriotism is Americans cultural attachment to the United States as their homeland.