the manifest destiny
Summary
The U. S. gained over 1.2 million square miles during the 1840s. As a result, many Americans believed that the U.S. was destined to expand to the Pacific Coast. John O' Sullivan coined the term referring to this belief, the "Manifest Destiny." This idea gained widespread support from numerous parties and most Americans. However, their support fell into a broad spectrum of varying intensities. Some Americans favored rapid expansion, despite the high risk of war with other nations. Other favored a long-term expansion, where the country was slowly built into an an empire. This idea was built on the Thomas Jefferson's philosophy that an abundance of land resulted in a prosperous nation. Expansionists claimed that by gaining land, the republic would get stronger, and it would be provided with infinite economic opportunities for their descendants. Southern plantation owners advocated expansion as a way to expand their growing slave population. For those in the business market, they saw that expansion would offer access to the trade markets of Asia. Due to the Panic of 1837, many Americans saw that foreign markets were essential. However, many Americans were anxious about British action. Great Britain was the U.S.'s only rival in the Pacific coastline. Southerners feared that because the British had already abolished slavery, they'd attempt to abolish slavery in the U.S. More anti-British sentiment arose when there were rumors that they were ting with Mexico to block their efforts to annex the Texan Republic and California. As a result, President James Polk voted to annex Texas in 1844. After expanding to the Pacific Coastline in 1850, the U.S. was essentially a transcontinental empire, and Great Britain was no longer a threat. Manifest Destiny saw its temporary demise with the bitter sectionalist catastrophe pitted the North against the South in a Civil War. The Manifest Destiny did not re-emerge until the 20th century with Teddy Roosevelt.
Connection to the Thesis
This artifact connects to the thesis statement because it portrays some of the American ideals, other than creativity and curiosity, that were primary forces in the expansion of the physical American frontier. Gradually, the idea of the Manifest Destiny fueled American westward expansion throughout the 1800s, which had profound effects on American society. Firstly, it improved the American economy. Secondly, it instilled national pride in Americans. Lastly, it resulted in the near destruction of the Union in the Civil War. The expansion of the frontier required American creativity in a unique, unconventional way. Most of the territory acquired in the Southwest from Mexico was a result of a series of battles and wars, ones that required intellect, strategy, and clever planning. Americans were placed in a situation where they needed to use their creativity to expand the frontier by winning wars which would acquire land. The northern territories, dating back from the Louisiana Purchase, were explored by numerous pioneers, such as Lewis and Clark. They too needed to use their creative energies to navigate the foreign lands and produce viable and usable maps. When looking at the American physical frontier from a different angle, one can quickly notice the surplus of creativity on the physical frontier.
The U. S. gained over 1.2 million square miles during the 1840s. As a result, many Americans believed that the U.S. was destined to expand to the Pacific Coast. John O' Sullivan coined the term referring to this belief, the "Manifest Destiny." This idea gained widespread support from numerous parties and most Americans. However, their support fell into a broad spectrum of varying intensities. Some Americans favored rapid expansion, despite the high risk of war with other nations. Other favored a long-term expansion, where the country was slowly built into an an empire. This idea was built on the Thomas Jefferson's philosophy that an abundance of land resulted in a prosperous nation. Expansionists claimed that by gaining land, the republic would get stronger, and it would be provided with infinite economic opportunities for their descendants. Southern plantation owners advocated expansion as a way to expand their growing slave population. For those in the business market, they saw that expansion would offer access to the trade markets of Asia. Due to the Panic of 1837, many Americans saw that foreign markets were essential. However, many Americans were anxious about British action. Great Britain was the U.S.'s only rival in the Pacific coastline. Southerners feared that because the British had already abolished slavery, they'd attempt to abolish slavery in the U.S. More anti-British sentiment arose when there were rumors that they were ting with Mexico to block their efforts to annex the Texan Republic and California. As a result, President James Polk voted to annex Texas in 1844. After expanding to the Pacific Coastline in 1850, the U.S. was essentially a transcontinental empire, and Great Britain was no longer a threat. Manifest Destiny saw its temporary demise with the bitter sectionalist catastrophe pitted the North against the South in a Civil War. The Manifest Destiny did not re-emerge until the 20th century with Teddy Roosevelt.
Connection to the Thesis
This artifact connects to the thesis statement because it portrays some of the American ideals, other than creativity and curiosity, that were primary forces in the expansion of the physical American frontier. Gradually, the idea of the Manifest Destiny fueled American westward expansion throughout the 1800s, which had profound effects on American society. Firstly, it improved the American economy. Secondly, it instilled national pride in Americans. Lastly, it resulted in the near destruction of the Union in the Civil War. The expansion of the frontier required American creativity in a unique, unconventional way. Most of the territory acquired in the Southwest from Mexico was a result of a series of battles and wars, ones that required intellect, strategy, and clever planning. Americans were placed in a situation where they needed to use their creativity to expand the frontier by winning wars which would acquire land. The northern territories, dating back from the Louisiana Purchase, were explored by numerous pioneers, such as Lewis and Clark. They too needed to use their creative energies to navigate the foreign lands and produce viable and usable maps. When looking at the American physical frontier from a different angle, one can quickly notice the surplus of creativity on the physical frontier.