From: Lawrence Chen
Date: 4/6/00
Time: 7:35:10 AM
Remote Name: 209.246.211.104
Lawrence Chen Cutler History 67 4/4/00
Define the phrase "Manifest Destiny" and explain its significance to U.S. history in the 1840s.
The phrase Manifest Destiny around the 1840s in the United States described the goal that America had set for itself to expand all throughout North America including Canada and Mexico. Originally inspired by the propagandists call for annexation for areas already occupied by migrants led the United States into a confrontation with Great Britain and a war with Mexico. This was a very important ideology because it helped the United States to expand its boundaries and feed its growing population of land hungry people. John L. O’Sullivan pointed out three reasons to support America’s manifest destiny. “One was that God was on the side of American expansionism.” This made America seem to be a divinely chosen people with America’s expansion. The second reason implied the phrase ‘free development’ which meant the extension of freedom. And lastly it was that it helped ease America’s growing population into new lands. The manifest destiny ideology helped America with the annexation of Texas and the area concerning Oregon. Though the manifest destiny never fulfilled its entire goal with Mexico and Canada it did however help the United States expand westward past the Mississippi. The manifest destiny was important to America because it helped a country grow in population and size.