From: Andrea Pawlowski
Date: 4/3/00
Time: 10:46:13 PM
Remote Name: 155.247.156.224
Andrea Pawlowski April 4th , 2000 Text Assignment - Week Eleven The text question that I chose to answer is "Define the phrase "Manifest Destiny" and explain its significance to United States history in the 1840's." Since settlers rushed beyond the nation's borders in the 1840's, many politicians were inspired to call for annexation of the areas that were occupied by migrants. Most people wanted the United States to keep expanding until it had absorbed Canada, Mexico and the rest of North America. The Doctrine of Manifest Destiny had three main ideas. John O'Sullivan was an editor who coined the phrase "manifest destiny" and pointed out the ideas of it. The rules were; "One was that God was on the side of American expansionism. This notion came naturally out of the long tradition, going back to the New England Puritans, that identified the growth of America with the divinely ordained success of a chosen people." The second idea, is associated with "free development." It discusses the idea of extending the freedom and "following the flag." O'Sullivan's third idea suggests that if population grows then there has to be space for the people to live. This was significant to the United States in the 1840's because it let the United States and its territory to expand. The population growth helped the economy grow, because more people meant more money. Also more inventions came about because there was more availability and land to work with. Improvements in manufacturing and agricultural methods helped with the range of trade. The land that was gained through the manifest destiny gave more land to make trades. Although there were wars because of this concept, it did help our nation grow and flourish.