America’s borders were expanding at a rapid pace in the 1840’s. This mostly westward movement was widely known as Manifest Destiny, the belief shared by many that America was destined by God to expand all the way to the Pacific Ocean, that they had a God given right to the territory in the West. Because this belief in ‘God’s will’ most Americans had no problem with plowing through many already established villages and held no regard for the other countries that already had claims to the land. Although many Americans recognized Manifest Destiny as a benign and favorable movement, this westward expansion occurred without any consideration to the well being of many people, and caused much harm to everyone and everything in the way of its fulfillment.
The Louisiana Purchase was the American acquisition of 828,000 square miles of land, sold by Napoleon of France for the extremely low sum of 15 million dollars. This purchase was the beginning of the American expansion, and although it had questionable constitutionality according to Thomas Jefferson who was president at the time, it was obviously extremely beneficial to the country as a whole and therefore was supported by the American people. This purchase was the start of Manifest Destiny, and the feelings of patriotism and pride stayed with the country as it expanded its borders and continued to grow.
In 1830 the people of the south were eager once again to gain more land below the Missouri Compromise Line that could be worked with slave labor. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 stemmed from the southerners lust for more land. This act was passed by President Andrew Jackson, and enabled him to negotiate with the southern tribes for their removal and relocation to federal territory west of the Mississippi River, in exchange for their homelands which were extremely sacred and held years of irreplaceable tradition and sentiment. In fact, this act declared that all Native American Tribes east of the Mississippi will be relocated. This lead to the Trail of Tears in 1838, where the remaining tribes were forcefully relocated and treated with extreme brutality. Although this act was strongly opposed by quite a few people including Abraham Lincoln, it was passed
Manifest Destiny Manifest Destiny was a belief that started in the 1840’s. This belief was the expansion of the United States “from sea to shining sea.” John O'Sullivan, a democratic leader, named the movement in 1845. Manifest destiny was just a phrase to help justify what they were doing. People in the early United States needed an excuse that what they were doing was right in order to help them feel better about what they did. As stated by Kinley Brauer, “Manifest Destiny is an emotive, quasi-religious…
was Manifest Destiny and the slavery issue that went with it. The idea of Manifest Destiny, American's right and mission to expand their civilization across North America, led to many new states entering the Union. The real problem was whether these states would be free or slave states, not wanting to throw off the balance of power in congress. The battle over whether a state would be slave or free was not only in congress, but extended to the people, often ending in bloody conflict. Manifest Destiny…
Manifest Destiny Two opposing parties had once again been formed, fueled by Jackson’s controversial presidency, following the era of one-party rule. The two parties that took the political stage during the 1830s were the Democrats, supporters of President Jackson, and the Whigs, opponents of Jackson. The Whigs named themselves after the Revolutionary Americans who were against British monarchs, showing their disapproval of many of Jackson’s decisions which they perceived as monarchical. The…
Manifest Destiny Timeline 1803-1853 Cause & Effect 1803 Louisiana Purchase – America’s fierce determination to keep the port of New Orleans open and France’s costly war against Britain. Pages 319-320 Purchase has been made, learning about the territory became more important, Lewis & Clark Expedition. Growth of fur trade, accurate maps (open the west to settlers), and clash of cultures. Cause & Effect War of 1812 – Impressments of US Citizens, interference w/ American shipping, and British…
States in 1846 was not justified in going to war with Mexico. The United States did not have proper justification to respond with violence against the Mexican government. The war with Mexico was also a product of the United States’ belief of Manifest Destiny. Polk’s over ambition to seize new territory from the Mexicans and disappointment over their refusal to sell him California also possibly played a factor in his willingness to wage war against Mexico. The United States under the leadership of…
Our country felt it was its manifest destiny to expand westward. While there are different opinions on why that is – whether it be that we are superior or that it is our god given right, we have expanded our bounds across the continent. How we did this were through a number of different methods, which can be categorized under two methods; peaceful and violent. Under the peaceful category, the United States used methods such as purchasing and negotiating to obtain land and move west. On the other…
Manifest Destiny Final Draft One of the largest and most wealthy countries in the world is the United States of America, it has gone through many changes in its long history. From winning its independence from Great Britain to the present day. America has changed dramatically and continues to change. Within all these characteristics a term first coined in called ‘Manifest Destiny’, also referred to as the west ward expansion, was the belief that America was destined by god with the mission of…
belief in democratic institutions to those who were capable of self-government. It excluded those people who were perceived as being incapable of self-government, such as Native American people and those of non-European origin. To understand Manifest Destiny, it's important to understand the United States' need and desire to expand. The following points illustrate some of the economic, social and political pressures promoting U.S. expansion: • The United States was experiencing a periodic high…
Primary Source John L. O’Sullivan—“Manifest Destiny”: John L. O’Sullivan, a newspaper editor in New York City, was the premier supporter and spokesman for westward expansion. O’Sullivan backed Democratic President James Polk’s desire to annex Texas, Oregon, and California. In his support he wrote many articles and coined the term “Manifest Destiny” to describe America’s inevitable future occupying the North American continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific. John O'Sullivan, "Annexation," United…
concept of Manifest Destiny in relation to the 1840s is a poignant part of this concepts defining period. First the question, “What is the exact definition of Manifest Destiny?’ must be answered. It is the belief that expansion across the continent of North America is the God given right of the United States. Not only did this driving force emphasize on expansion it represented much more to its proponents, it was freedom and the force that would help economic growth as well. Manifest Destiny was an American…
