From: Tasheeva Drayton
Date: 4/5/00
Time: 11:54:36 PM
Remote Name: 155.247.152.65
Tasheeva Drayton
Define the phrase "Manifest Destiny" and explains its significance to U.S history in the 1840's.
As the population of Americans on the West Coast increased, so too did the nations desire to actually own the land that the Americans were settling. The phrase "Manifest Destiny" was coined to describe the philosophy shared by many that the U.S had a divine right to become a larger nation. "Manifest Destiny" is a phrase used by John O'Sullivan to describe the U.S expansion in the 1840's. They possessed the "divine" right to grow and expand all across North America. They held three reasons to justify their actions. They were that G-d was on their side, follow the flag and population growth meant that they needed more territory. This was really important in the 1840's because the U.S size tripled. Manifest Destiny helped the U.S achieve many lands like annexation of Texas and present day California. This divine right left no intervening by anyone. The Native Americans that inhabited the land that was taken over by the U.S were forced to go west and then eventually driven out all together. The fact that the U.S felt it was their destiny to spread out throughout North America caused problems especially with the Mexicans because they had already settled this land and refused to give it up. The U.S came in with force and made this territory theirs, but not without a fight. Manifest Destiny was a way for the U.S to build the country and be uncontested. In the 1840s, westward expansion proceeded at a rapid pace. Promises of wide-open spaces and inexpensive land with rich soil enticed many people in the East to pack up their possessions and head West. As the population of Americans on the West Coast increased, so too did the nation's desire to actually own the land that these Americans were settling. The phrase "Manifest Destiny" was coined to describe the philosophy shared by many that the United States had a divine right to become a transcontinental nation. To that end, the 1840s became a decade of rapid territorial acquisition and expansion In the 1840s, westward expansion proceeded at a rapid pace. Promises of wide-open spaces and inexpensive land with rich soil enticed many people in the East to pack up their possessions and head West. As the population of Americans on the West Coast increased, so too did the nation's desire to actually own the land that these Americans were settling. The phrase "Manifest Destiny" was coined to describe the philosophy shared by many that the United States had a divine right to become a transcontinental nation. To that end, the 1840s became a decade of rapid territorial acquisition and expansion