Manifest Destiny was the belief in the 19th-century American expansion westward, which stated that it was the nation's divine right to expand its borders and spread its democratic values. This belief emerged in the 1840s and was fueled by religious and economic factors. Americans believed they were required to expand westward to fulfill their destiny and increase their wealth and prosperity. The result of the westward expansion was the acquisition of vast territories that led to significant economic growth, but it also had negative impacts and consequences for the Native Americans, Mexicans, and Chinese immigrants directly affected.
Body Paragraph 1: Manifest Destiny and the American Desire to Move West
The belief in Manifest Destiny was fueled by religious and economic factors. The religious belief was that God had given the United States the divine right to expand and spread its democratic values. Americans believed that they were required to expand westward to spread these values and fulfill their destiny. The economic factors that increased the desire to move west were the availability of fertile land, abundant natural resources, and new markets. The westward expansion provided opportunities for farmers, miners, and entrepreneurs to acquire land, extract resources, and create new markets.
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The United States acquired vast territories during this stretch of time, including the Oregon Territory and the Mexican Cession. The Oregon Territory was acquired through a treaty with Great Britain in 1846 and provided fertile land for farming and ranching. The Mexican Cession was acquired after the Mexican-American War in 1848 and provided significant resources such as gold, silver, and copper. The acquisition of these lands led to significant economic growth and opportunities for Americans to settle, farm, mine, and