During the 1840, the United States was able to access much more land in the west than previously before. The United States saw this as an opportunity to expand their territories and to settle and obtain all things the land has to offer. The United States justified their actions through the idea of Manifest Destiny, which they viewed to be a harmless and benevolent philosophy. Manifest Destiny was in fact not as benign as the United States has come to believe; it caused the colonization and imperialism of land that held many Natives who were eventually killed or sent into reservations. People in the southern region of the conquered land were greatly influenced by this expansion as well; it caused many families who were living in the Texas area …show more content…
The United States exploration of their new territory was justified through the idea of Manifest destiny; the idea that the United States was destined to expand and spread their influence to the west through any means necessary. This way of thinking is what caused America to imperialize and drive the Natives out of the west and into lands that were not their homes or to their deaths. Manifest Destiny caused the American people to charge through the west without abandon and thought, these actions are justified by John Louis O’Sullivan, who coined the phrase “Manifest Destiny,” when he states, “... the right of our manifest destiny to over spread and to possess the whole of the continent which Providence has given us for the development of the great experiment of liberty…” his statement was published and resonated with the American people and the sense of nationalism that they felt toward their country. They felt it was their duty to spread American ideals and culture to those who did not already possess it so that the west would be able to join in The United States idealistic superiority, despite the fact that other people in the west had developed their own cultures and ideas. For instance, many native tribes did not regard their beliefs and spirituality as a religion, but as a part of their being and as a reasoning toward their habits and mannerisms; when …show more content…
Westward expansion gave the US access to various types of nature they didn’t have access to before. Prairies, deserts, and plentiful amounts of bison were among them any resources the American settlers exploited on their journeys through the west. The vast amount of land that was available was used immediately to grow crops such as corn and wheat despite the fact that the grassland they were using were not adept to growing those types of crops consequently changing the land and its capabilities. The animals in the exploited areas suffered as another result of the change and degeneration of the land; animals began to die out due to lack of food and shelter. Settlers also began to exploit animal populations through mistreatment. Animals, like bison, were over grazed then killed then so that they could be exploited then sold or traded. Other animals such as coyotes or wolves were seen as pests or in the way of the settlers so they were killed as a way of extermination so that the Americans may move forward without impediment. The unfamiliar land was vastly different from land in the east that Americans had grown used to. They were unaware of how to make use of their new surroundings so much of the resources they had available to them were wasted so that the settlers may try to tailor the land to the way they were used to. According to a traveler Josiah Gregg, “Once at
Manifest Destiny is the belief of the nineteenth century that America was destined by God to expand westward. The author of Our Country: Its Possible Future and Its Present Crisis believed that God established Anglo-Saxons as the superior people whose purpose was to spread Christianity. (Doc B) This idea of spreading a superior culture or religion has been a motive for expansion for decades before this. Despite this support for expansionism, there were those who were against it.
The Manifest Destiny was the 1800s belief that Americans should expand westward. The Manifest Destiny benefited the country and the people of the United States. For example, the United States doubled in size through the Louisiana Purchase (A Growing Nation Notes). All of the different purchases at this time made the US the size that it is now. In result of the United States growing, more people came to the country for a new beginning so it was beneficial to the people in the country.
Manifest Destiny wasn’t a prominent thought, but the land so viciously fought for by the Colonists was supposed to be only theirs. In this way, it was believed “guiding” the Native Americans to more of an agricultural lifestyle was beneficial to the United States since then the Indians would not need as much land. (Document F) Of course, the façade of friendship and boundaries was kept with
Manifest Destiny is a term used to describe a particular ideology and belief that white European-Americans were inherently superior than that of natives and other ethnic groups and were destined by God to secure claim expand their territories across America from "sea to shining sea. " Under the guise of religion and racist ideologies white European- Americans used extreme measures to wipe the native inhabitants from their land in order to reach this goal. Independence had been won, the war of 1812 had been conquered, and American settlers wanted to create a more homogenous society with more territory and preservation of their religion and racial superiority. In order to achieve to actualize their vision U.S. policy makers justified their reactions
Manifest Destiny was the ideology, which held that the United States was destined to expand from coast to coast on the North American continent. Manifest Destiny was a substantial factor in the expansion of the United States and its conflicts with Native American’s over land. The advancement West was also propelled by the end of the Civil War, the Homestead Act, wagon trails, and the discovery of gold and other non-precious metals. By the mid-1700s Native Americans leave their farms to lead a nomadic life roaming the Great Plains hunting buffalo on horseback.
The phrase “manifest destiny” was created by writer John L. O’Sullivan. The main belief of the Manifest Destiny was that god had destined the United States to rule from “sea to shining sea” aka the United States believed they should own all territory between the Pacific ocean and Atlantic ocean regardless of who or what was living there. In order to obtain the Manifest Destiny settlers were forced to face the harsh conditions of the Oregon Trail amongst others like the Mormon Trail, California trail, and Santa Fe Trail. The Manifest destiny had a positive impact on American expansion because it caused the country to not only grow in size but also
John O'Sullivan claimed that, “our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions” (Doc A). As the nation experienced new technological advancement and economic growth, the need for more land became imminent. Many supporters and “advocates of Manifest Destiny used lofty language and invoked God and Nature to sanction expansion” (388). Religion played a significant role in the lives of many Americans. That being said, if Americans believed that God had ordained them with such a destiny, they would not be resistant to adhere to take action.
Manifest Destiny was a phrase used by politicians and leaders in the United States in the 1840s to justify and promote territorial expansion across the North American continent by providing a sense of mission to citizens. It promoted this sense of mission by fomenting a desire to establish a large empire-like nation in which the ideals of democracy, freedom, and progress are ostensibly protected and promoted. It strongly characterized U.S. internal and external policies and has continued to do so to this day. In theory, one aspect of this desire was its principle to bring the ideals of democratic self-government to any peoples capable of it; in practice, however, this often meant excluding Native Americans and those with non-European ancestry.
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 (first developed in 1845) was the idea that during the nineteenth century, America not only could but would expand from coast to coast. The accomplishment of this idea came with the removal of indians in areas like the great plains, as well as many smaller conflicts in between the indians and the Americans. The Americans attempted to make a compromise with the indians so that they would leave peacefully, examples of this would be the offer to pay the indians in the form of supplies and annuities. The idea was a good one until Americans denied a payment in 1862 because John pope regarded the Indians as “maniacs or wild beasts ” and states that they do not deserve treaties or anything of the sort. Another big factor in the expansion of America from coast to coast was the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad, not only with the people that it had brought to the west for the work, but the ease that it had provided for those who wanted to travel from the east to the west and did not have the money nor the time.
Manifest 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.
Manifest 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
During the “Gilded Age” period of American history, development of the Trans-Mississippi west was crucial to fulfilling the American dream of manifest destiny and creating an identity which was distinctly American. Since the west is often associated with rugged pioneers and frontiersmen, there is an overarching idea of hardy American individualism. However, although these settlers were brave and helped to make America into what it is today, they heavily relied on federal support. It would not have been possible for white Americans to settle the Trans-Mississippi west without the US government removing Native Americans from their lands and placing them on reservations, offering land grants and incentives for people to move out west, and the
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.
Manifest Destiny or Excuses? The westward expansion was a period of ambition for many Americans who wanted to extend US territory for resources, personal reasons, business and etc. The problem they faced was that it was all Mexican territory. In order to settle in the West, people must become citizens of the Mexican government and follow its rules. This fact upset many Americans as it does not benefit their own country and so the idea of Manifest Destiny was born.