Explain the origin of Manifest Destiny?
"Manifest destiny" was the term made up by John O' Sullivan in the mid- 1800's. He was writing about his belief, that the United States was destined by God himself to expand the United States from the Atlantic Ocean all the way to the Pacific. Also they would take over the land regardless of who might be in the way and move them out of their way as how they did to the natives. This term got many Americans imagination at a time when the United States was gaining land and when they were eyeing the British-controlled Oregon Territory in the Northwest. So then O' Sullivan stated, among other things, that since Britain would not be implementing democracy in the territory, the nation did not have a valid claim to it. |
Why did Americans want to settle the lands in the west?
The Americans mostly wanted to settle in the land in the west because there was a lot of good fertile land and they had forest. Also because there found out that in the Natives land there was good. Some whites came to the west so that they can start a better life and escape the law. The fertile land was good for growing crops so that they can make food and which was good for the farmers to farm. The gold was good because when one of the minors found gold then they would get some good money. Also the whites wanted to move more to the west because they wanted to gain more land of course and as they were trying to move the natives out of the land the constitution made the Indian Removal Act in 1830 and so they had to leave. Although some whites wanted the natives to adapted white culture many other whites disagreed to that and so they said that they wanted the natives out. So as the Indians were leaving there land to the Indian Territory it was called the trail of tears. It was called the trail of tears because it was a very harsh journey for them. This is why the Americans wanted to settle land in the west and why they had push the natives out of their way. |
What is meant by manifest destiny?
The manifest destiny was meant for the whites to move from one coast to the other coast which was from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. It was also meant for the whites to get more land. Also this term was used in the 19th century to designate the belief that the United States was able to expand the land of the North American continent. That is what the term of the manifest destiny is for. |
John O’ Sullivan: “Our manifest destiny [is] to overspread and possess the whole of the continent which Providence [God] has given us for the development of the great experiment of liberty and… self-government.”