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Manifest Destiny Dbq Essay

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Paper #2 William Jennings Bryan claimed, “Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.” A notion of westward expansion ignited the idea of Manifest Destiny, which raised the question on whether or not the United States should pursue the entire continent. Nearing the 1850s, Americans began to believe they were a superior race that had a sole responsibility, or God-given right, of expanding westward across the continent. Factors such as the American system, the decimation of Native Americans, the market revolution, and the Mexican war fueled the American's belief in Manifest Destiny and ensured the necessary actions to achieve it. In the first place, it is vital to …show more content…

Around the 1820s, whites worked to increasingly survey and squat tribal lands. Indians often experienced great injustice from whites. Furthermore, in 1830 President Andrew Jackson issued for the Indian Removal Act, which granted him the ability to "exchange public lands in the West for Indian territories in the East" (255). Further evidence, Jackson's excerpt stated that, "It will relieve the whole state of Mississippi and the Western part of Alabama of Indian occupancy, and enable those states to advance rapidly in population, wealth, and power" {Doc E}. With this …show more content…

John O'Sullivan claimed that, “our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions” (Doc A). As the nation experienced new technological advancement and economic growth, the need for more land became imminent. Many supporters and “advocates of Manifest Destiny used lofty language and invoked God and Nature to sanction expansion” (388). Religion played a significant role in the lives of many Americans. That being said, if Americans believed that God had ordained them with such a destiny, they would not be resistant to adhere to take action. However, not all Americans felt this way. For instance, “Northern Whigs frequently dismissed Manifest Destiny as a smoke screen aimed at concealing the evil intent of expanding slavery” (388). Before the establishment of the Nebraska Act many Northerners felt that the expansion west would further increase the spread slavery throughout the remainder of the

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