Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny is a term that was used to describe the expansion of the United States across North America. This expansion was based on the idea that God had placed the American people in charge of spreading democracy and other virtues throughout North America.
Background
During this time, many Americans believed that the United States should become a world power. They also believed that the lands west of the Mississippi River (and later into the Caribbean) were destined to be part of the United States and be settled by American settlers.
Rise of Manifest Destiny
The concept of manifest destiny first came into popularity in the 1840s. Its proponents argued that the lands west of the Mississippi River were destined to be part of the United states and that the United states should spread their values, including democracy and capitalism, throughout the world.
They believed that America's superiority in politics, religion, and agrarianism made them the rightful owners of these territories. In addition, they viewed their moral mission as an irrepressible obligation to spread democracy and expand the nation from sea to shining sea.
Expansion and Acquisition
Although the phrase "manifest destiny" did not appear in written form until July 1845, it was already a widespread belief among Americans that they had a duty to take and settle new territory. It was also a belief that God had placed the American people in charge and was guiding their actions.
Manifest Destiny was most associated with the territorial expansion of the United States between 1815 and 1860. During this period, the United States expanded to the Pacific Ocean and defined most of the borders of the modern United States as we know it today.
It was also the period when the United States began acquiring Spanish territories in the western Pacific and Latin America after the Spanish-American War. In addition, the United States annexed Hawaii after the Treaty of Paris.
Challenges and Repercussions
While the idea of manifest destiny was gaining momentum, it wasn't without its problems. The idea of expanding the nation into Mexico and California brought forth arguments about money, race, religion, and patriotism. This led to conflicts between the northern and southern states and eventually the United States Civil War.
The phrase "manifest destiny" was coined by John L. O'Sullivan in an article he wrote about the annexation of Texas. O'Sullivan argued that America had a responsibility to spread democracy and other virtues throughout the western part of North America, and he said that God had placed the American people in charge.
O'Sullivan also argued that the lands of the American West were destined to be part of the United state and that the United states should spread their values, such as democracy and capitalism, throughout the world. Ultimately, the idea of manifest destiny did not survive the American Civil War and was largely replaced by expansionism.
Legacy and Belief
The concept of manifest destiny is a powerful one that has shaped the history of the United States. It's a combination of setting goals and giving them over to the universe, but it is also a subconscious belief that what you want will come your way.
