Positive And Negative Impacts Of Manifest Destiny: United States
Sam Foust
Professor Grisham
HIST 157
1/18/23
Manifest Destiny was a term coined in the mid-19th century to describe the belief that it was the divine right and duty of the United States to expand its territory and spread its principles of freedom, religion, democracy, and opportunity across the entire North American continent. However, manifest destiny had lasting impacts and was not liked by all. This construct that was a huge part of Americas history is a very controversial topic with lasting benefits. There are arguments to be made for both the negative and positive side of Manifest Destiny.
Manifest Destiny benefited the United States through in many ways. One way was improvements technological innovation. Since Manifest Destiny
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For example, the Americanization of the indigenous inhabitants led to an increase of hostility. Westward expansion in the U.S. was not going to stop for the Native Americans. Americas military scale overpowered the Natives so that they had no choice but to fight a losing fight or assimilate. This turmoil would cause many casualties and lead to a poor relationship between the settlers and natives. Another negative impact was the spread of slavery. Westward expansion was segregated in that only white people benefited from it. The speech by Thomas Benton confirmed this when he said that the command was given to white people only. The land that getting taken over was only for white persons and gave people of color an even bigger disadvantage. Manifest destiny also caused the Mexican American War. This wars fire was stoked by the integration of settlers into Texas due to westward expansion. This integration did not go well as the Americans were not following the rules of the native owners of Texas. This led to relations between the two countries being rocky and eventually led to the war. This war caused America to take over land in Texas and California, while destroying their relationship with Mexico, as Mexicans resented the U.S now. It also came at a cost of many lives for America. Another consequence of the Manifest Destiny movement was the splitting of the country. The south was overly aggressive and
The Pros And Cons Of Manifest Destiny
243 Words | 1 PagesHowever, because I believe that Manifest Destiny was not justified, the more dominant arguments are the land that was obtained by the United States using Manifest Destiny was not fairly acquired. According to the Signs of Opposition, “By sending U.S. troops to the Rio Grande, they argued, Polk had bullied a weaker neighbor into committing an act of aggression.” This quote is explaining how the United States acquired Texas. Polk’s method of getting Texas was unethical because not only were hundreds of innocent people killed, but the United States bullied Mexico into firing on them. It was an unjust way to secure their hold on Texas.
Texaan Manifest Destiny Analysis
252 Words | 2 Pages"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.
Monroe Doctrine Dbq
1109 Words | 5 PagesAnd third, the United States were divinely ordained to accomplish these tasks" (Miller). Manifest Destiny was used to justify the annexation of Texas, the Mexican American War, and westward expansion through the Indian Removal Act. Americans believed that their values lined up with the right for them expand west by all means, such as acts of violence. With America rapidly multiplying in population, the need for more land to create homesteads and establishments was needed and could be solved by expanding west. By spreading colonies west, the United States was able to develop and prosper as a nation promoting its values, influences, and technology out
Manifest Destiny's Relationship With American Settlers
410 Words | 2 PagesManifest Destiny was a big stepping point in America. When American settlers wanted more land, they decided to take Natives land, so they could expand their own land. This caused them to retaliate causing the Civil War. This made the Native Americans and Americans relationship to be worse. It made the Native American population decrease drastically.
Manifest Destiny Positive Effects
269 Words | 2 PagesThere were many negative and positive aspects to Manifest Destiny. Manifest Destiny was the idea that the United States was meant to expand from the East Coast to the West Coast. Many people agreed with this idea when John L. O’ Sullivan first used it in his essay, “Annexation in Democratic Review.” Although many people disagreed with this motive, causing it to be quite a controversial subject. One positive effect of Manifest Destiny was the discovery of new land, plants, and animals.
Manifest Destiny Dbq Essay
871 Words | 4 PagesDid you know that Manifest Destiny fueled sectarian tensions over slavery, leading to the Civil War? Manifest Destiny occurred during 1812-1867. The concept of Manifest Destiny held that white Americans were naturally destined to colonize the entire region of North America. President James K. Polk of the United States was a staunch advocate of Manifest Destiny. He felt that expanding America's borders all the way to the Pacific Ocean was God's plan.
How Was The Mexican American War Justified
503 Words | 3 PagesIt also made expansion and dispossession of indigenous people. But another reason the war was justified is that Manifest Destiny allowed the mexican american war to happen and it also was a key event from where the Manifest Destiny was a exploration from the Atlantic ocean to the Pacific ocean. The impact the American Mexican war left on texas and the United states was that the war halved the size of mexico and then it doubled the territory of the United states The American Mexican war was just a really big part in history cause it proves how americans fought for their land and that they never gave up and that they will always do their best and they won't give up and that's how Americans will always be even if americans got killed during that fight the us army never gave up and they won the battle after a long and hard fought battle they won. President James Polk was important to the battle because he saw a big territorial expansion of the U.S so he advocated for the annexation of Texas and he prosecuted the resulting American Mexican war which later then added more of the southwest and california's land to the country's territory and polk was a strong supporter of manifest destiny the president convinced that it was God's plan for us to move west and that God wanted us to expand. Mexicans point of view would be that they saw that America came as a threat and they decided to fight back because texas was Mexico's to begin with and also Texas was independent when it was
Why Is The Mexican American War Justified
272 Words | 2 PagesThe Mexican-American War is a war that mainly broke out because of Texas. It is a complicated question whether the United States was justified in starting a war over Texas, but it is extremely likely that the U.S. instigated an unwanted conflict with Mexico that turned into a war. The idea of Manifest Destiny was one of the primary reasons why the United States was not justified in starting a war with Mexico. This was a problem that was widespread in the U.S. It asserted that they had the right to enlarge its territory from coast to coast.
Summary Of Manifest Destiny And American Territorial Expansion
1622 Words | 7 PagesWhatever its true purpose, Manifest Destiny has indeed stretched the U.S territory and seized half of Mexico’s land. On the contrary, Manifest Destiny resulted in a conflict with
Life In The Westward Expansion
502 Words | 3 PagesSome Americans were for creating territories for the Indians but were weakened by those who had a strong belief they were destined to settle all the way to the West. In conclusion, the mindset of Manifest Destiny allowed American territories to expand but brought up controversies that would become prominent issues. As the Americans moved westward, slavery divided the states in the North and South and later became a problem that needed to be solved. Additionally, Natives were being removed and forced into small territories which made some Americans doubt the decisions the government was making. All in all, Manifest Destiny allowed for the a new chapter in the United States’ history that would bring power but also troubles within the
Manifest Destiny Benefits
774 Words | 4 PagesThis increased population the west. Additionally, Technology was advancing too because more railroads were being built and being improved. More opportunities were given to Chinese immigrants, as they were given jobs in the railroad industry. Ultimately, the benefits of the Manifest Destiny outweighed the consequences. This is because the U.S had to grow in power and advance, without anything being in their way.
Manifest Destiny Essay
469 Words | 2 PagesWars were fought and won, and President after President had a different perspective on how Manifest Destiny was to be implemented. The expansion of the West brought with it other qualms: the meaning of slavery and states’ rights. While Manifest Destiny can be viewed as ending with the final state added to the lower forty-eight, Arizona in 1912 brought an end to Western expansion; the rise of industrialization can be seen as another part of Manifest Destiny, though, that mainly deals with the Eastern parts of the US. California is a key part of Manifest Destiny, the argument of slavery, the gold rush, the US War with Mexico in the 1840’s being key examples of American expansion. Not to be forgotten is the acquisition of the Oregon territories as well, they were purchased from England with little ramifications, though symbolically it spoke volumes about how precocious the US was/is.
How Did Manifest Destiny Affect Mexico
541 Words | 3 PagesManifest Destiny changed the United States socially, economically and politically. It was affected socially because it became more culturally diffused; it also affected relationship with the Native Americans due to the Americans belief that they were the better race and others were inferior to them. It was affected economically because there was more land to profit off of and politically it damaged the United States and Mexico’s foreign relations. Those who believed in the manifest destiny forcefully removed Native Americans from their lands in order for the United States to gain more land. America was shifted politically, due to new tense relations with Mexico, as an effect of the Mexican
Cause And Effect Of Manifest Destiny
2016 Words | 9 PagesThe time of Manifest Destiny was a time of true American brotherhood and comradeship. With Andrew Jackson and James K. Polk being the leading presidents of the cause during this time, it not only led to continental expansion but homicide as well. While the Americans believed they were expanding into free land, Native Americans had already settled the land centuries earlier. This led to the dark side of Manifest Destiny. Native Americans were forced to pick up their homes and resettle in areas that were less than sufficient to meet their basic needs.
How Did Manifest Destiny Impact The California Gold Rush
968 Words | 4 PagesManifest destiny “gave” the right to the U.S. to expand west and take the land for their benefit. The ideology of manifest destiny inspired a variety of extremes and measures designed to remove the native population. Though manifest destiny was detrimental to so many lives, it
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