ipl-logo

Manifest Destiny Analysis

724 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Effect of manifest destiny

Manifest Destiny's ideas of spreading democratic principles along with the belief that God had chosen America's people for the great task of extending freedom across the continent would lead to a mindset best described as the white man's burden. The great task of bringing the heathen nations that surrounded America under her promising, beautiful banner of democracy and civilization seemed no small task to bare, but one that was imperative to accomplish. The importance of this task was well outlined by the very man who coined the term, saying "In this path we cannot go wrong. It is only to be cautious not to go too fast. Such then is our democracy." (O'sullivan, Greatest 339). O'sullivan's goes on to say "For democracy is the cause of humanity. …show more content…

Polk had sent John Slidell to negotiate with Mexico, unfortunately the negotiations did not go well causing General Zachory Taylor to travel to the Rio Grand with a band of 4,000 troops. During a battle placed between the Rio Grand and the Nueces River a handful of Americans were kill by Mexican troops, soon after Polk gave an address to Congress to plea for war, saying " Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon American soil. She has proclaimed that hostilities have commenced and that the two nations are now at war."(Polk, 456). Polk based much of his argument of the news of the death of American soldiers, claiming that American blood had been shed on American soil, but in reality the land they had died on was past the boundary of the United States and taken place within the disputed territory. Despite this fact people of America rallied behind the call of war after these solders death and set an ultimatum for the war and it was clear to many that the small Mexican army had a slim chance of winning. Americans wanted the Mexican's to leave the territory as well as give over control to New Mexico and California, and on May 13, 1846 Congress officially declared War with Mexico, authorizing 50,000 troops to march to Mexico City. (Acuna

Show More
Related
776 Words | 4 Pages

Americans were outraged over the border dispute at the Nueces and the Rio Grande rivers, and Mexicans were irate with America’s annexation of Texas. President James K. Polk availed in the atmosphere of animosity, hurrying to place troops on conflicted land. On May 9, 1846, he found his cause for war. Mexican and American troops had engaged in combat on April 24, which led American blood spilt on contended soil. However, through all their fighting spirit, the Americans faithfully ignored their own mistreatment of the Mexicans.

Read More
581 Words | 3 Pages

The fact from document c that proves this is “ Troops commanded by General Zachary Taylor arrived at the Rio Grande across from the city of Matamoros thus occupying the territory in dispute… in the eyes, the Mexican government the mobilization of the United States Army was an outright attack on Mexico as a consequence the Mexican government reaffirms the instruction to protect the border”. This fact from document c proves that in 1846, President James K. Polk ordered American troops to move into the disputed territory between the Rio Grande and Nueces Rivers. The Mexican government saw this as a violation of its sovereignty and responded by attacking American troops. The United States then declared war on Mexico. The United States had no reason to move troops into the disputed territory, and its actions were seen as aggressive by

Read More
1622 Words | 7 Pages

Manifest Destiny is a unique, yet mysterious fundamental series of events in American history. No other country’s history contains such an eventful history as the United States. Amy Greenberg’s book, Manifest Destiny and American Territorial Expansion, provides documented evidence that settlers believed they were destined for expansion throughout the continent. In other words, many religious settlers believed that it was a call from God for the United States to expand west. On the other hand, people believed that Manifest Destiny vindicated the war against Mexico.

Read More
541 Words | 3 Pages

Manifest destiny also affected the relationship with Mexico. Several factors led to the Mexican- American War in 1846. The factors were that the U.S citizens were moving into California and Mexico. Since there were many revolutions happening in Mexico throughout this time period the Mexican government was not able to protect the U.S citizens in this region. Another factor was that Mexico was upset that Texas declared independence from them and then the U. S annexed Texas in 1845.

Read More
1015 Words | 5 Pages

However, this is an invalid argument. The land that Polk tried saying was invaded was actually land that was being disputed between Mexico and America. As, at the time they were having disagreements on where their borders were. Joshua Giddings wrote, “the army was within the United States they could not commit violence upon Mexico… It seems that the President expected General Taylor to find Mexican citizens located within the United States.”

Read More
600 Words | 3 Pages

After many fatal encounters between the two, America had gained control of the territory. They applied for annexation into the United States twice, but congress did not want to aggravate Mexican officials. Although, after James K. Polk was elected president in 1844, congress voted to annex Texas. The United States was not justified in the war with Mexico because they didn’t follow their laws, undisputed territory, and the idea of manifest destiny. To begin with, The United States was not justified because they didn’t abide by Mexico’s

Read More
614 Words | 3 Pages

Following those fights, Polk told the U.S. Congress that the "Measure of avoidance has been depleted, even before Mexico passed the limit of the United States, attacked our region, and shed American blood upon American soil." after two days, on May 13, Congress announced war, in spite of restriction from some northern administrators. No official assertion of war at any point originated from Mexico. Around then, just around 75,000 Mexican natives lived north of the Rio Grande.

Read More
1108 Words | 5 Pages

The Market Revolution generated a drastic change in the United States economy and altered gender barriers while at the same time accomplishing this in a provocative manner. This economic boom occurred around the first half of the 19th Century. The economic boom was achieved by inventions such as a transcontinental railroad system which resulted in a better transportation system which improved trade and the cotton gin which sped up the rate of removing seeds from cotton fiber. However like what the great Hugo said, “The brutalities of progress are called revolutions. When they are over we realize this: that the human race has been roughly handled, but that it has advanced”.

Read More
493 Words | 2 Pages

“The expansive future is our arena, and for our history. We are entering on its untrodden space, with the truths of god in our minds, beneficent objects in our hearts, and with a clear conscience unsullied by the past.” This is telling the reader that we have a huge desire to go and capture something that no one can stop us from.” Manifest Destiny” is supporting of expansion, discovering new lands and resources. “Manifest Destiny,” “American Progress,” “Reporting to the President, September

Read More
1309 Words | 6 Pages

The United States exploration of their new territory was justified through the idea of Manifest destiny; the idea that the United States was destined to expand and spread their influence to the west through any means necessary. This way of thinking is what caused America to imperialize and drive the Natives out of the west and into lands that were not their homes or to their deaths. Manifest Destiny caused the American people to charge through the west without abandon and thought, these actions are justified by John Louis O’Sullivan, who coined the phrase “Manifest Destiny,” when he states, “... the right of our manifest destiny to over spread and to possess the whole of the continent which Providence has given us for the development of the great experiment of liberty…” his statement was published and resonated with the American people and the sense of nationalism that they felt toward their country. They felt it was their duty to spread American ideals and culture to those who did not already possess it so that the west would be able to join in The United States idealistic superiority, despite the fact that other people in the west had developed their own cultures and ideas. For instance, many native tribes did not regard their beliefs and spirituality as a religion, but as a part of their being and as a reasoning toward their habits and mannerisms; when

Read More
320 Words | 2 Pages

The major conflict of President James Polk's term was the Mexican War that began during his presidency on 1846, and ended in 1848. May 13, 1846 is when congress officially declared war on Mexico, but previously to the U.S. declaring war the United States had already won two battles. This war was popular among young men and men, many people wanted to enlist in the army that recruiting stations had to turn away a large amount of people. During the war president James Polk sent a diplomat by the name of Nicholas Trist to try and settle peace with the Mexicans, but had an unsuccessful arrangement with Santa Anna president of Mexico. Therefore the war continued but ended shortly after when the United States won the battle of Mexico

Read More
788 Words | 4 Pages

Mexico’s leader at the time was named Santa Anna, who had fought over the territory with the leaders of the US. At one point in time, Sam Houston had been elected president and led the US army into battles. As said in Document 7, “‘... The protection of our laws and the benefits of our democratic government should be extended over them in

Read More
930 Words | 4 Pages

Manifest Destiny was the term used by John O’Sullivan to describe America’s desire to expand West due to reasons including both the vast amount of unclaimed land and the opportunities Americans wanted to explore. During this time, Americans believed that it was their God-given right to expand West, and therefore they were entitled to push away any groups that were in their way. Due to the mindset that the Americans could do as they pleased with the groups of people who got in their way, Manifest Destiny affected many groups of people, including the American Indians and Slaves, and continued to build up the preexisting tension between the North and South. One of the groups of people affected greatly by Manifest Destiny were the Native Americans. Manifest Destiny affected the American Indians by spreading foreign diseases to them as they moved Westward, through the Native American territory.

Read More
1171 Words | 5 Pages

and Mexican forces had taken place in U.S. territory.” “Further, legislators were at odds over whether Polk had the right to unilaterally declare that a state of war

Read More
2016 Words | 9 Pages

“Once we became an independent people it was as much a law of nature that this [control of all of North America] should become our pretension as that the Mississippi should flow to the sea” –John Quincy Adams (Henretta, p. 384). In the 1840s, Americans had a belief that God destined for them to expand their territory all the way westward to the Pacific Ocean. This idea was called Manifest Destiny. In the nineteenth century, Americans were recognized for coming together and building up one another for one cause: westward expansion.

Read More

More about Manifest Destiny Analysis

Related Topics

Open Document