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Manifest Destiny Research Paper

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Literature has been among the greatest influences upon American patriotism, and how our Nation classifies 'true Americanism'. Yet when one looks at what categorizes literature as 'American,' the definition may seem abstract. Yet there several key points as to why certain literary pieces are regarded as American, whereas others are discounted. This essay will discuss how ‘manifest destiny’ helps one to identify our patriotic literature, how the literature openly exposes both the flaws and strengths of our nation and people, and how American literature connects its people together—even when otherwise it may not be possible. For examples I am using the poems “Theme for English B” and “I, Too” by Langston Hughes, “Chicago” by Carl Sandburg, and “America” by Claude McKay. …show more content…

In the poem I, Too, Langston Hughes is expressing Manifest Destiny; the narrator’s fervent certainty that he will, one day, be equivalent with the white race; “Tomorrow/ I’ll be at the table/when company comes” (pp. 1038, 8-10). He is certain of his equality with the white man, and retains the belief that things will change, thereby articulating a form of Manifest Destiny. This manner of Manifest Destiny is also implied at within the poem Chicago; “Under the terrible burden of destiny laughing as some young man/ laughs” shows that the city of Chicago, one of the largest cities within America at the time, has had destiny placed upon its shoulders (pp. 774, 17-18). That destiny is to be above other towns, to be proud of what Chicago

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In 1845, the idea of Manifest Destiny was created by John O’Sullivan. Manifest Destiny continued to have a large impact on the development of the U.S. Furthermore, Manifest Destiny helped unite the U.S. through the common goal to expand, however, it further developed the split on slavery. Documents one, four, and six show that Manifest destiny led to a common goal to expand westward, specifically, unifying whig and democratic parties to a common objective. The first document was from a Whig journal and it is clear that he was for expansion,” the natural progress of events will undoubtedly give us that province[California]”(document one).

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The United States became a continental nation by the Westward expansion regarding annexations, purchases, lands ceded, treaties, and the manifest destiny. United States were able to fulfill the manifest destiny, the belief that says US is clearly meant to expand to the Pacific. This belief was pleased by various annexations, purchases, lands ceded, and treaties. Texas was annexed to the US when Sam Houston tricked US that Texas might become allies with Britain. Several purchases helped manifest destiny come true.

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The writings of Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson provide examples that address the essential question ‘What makes American literature American?”. During the Founding Fathers time period, American literature was based on logic, unifying as a nation and the Founding Fathers beliefs that the nation should be independent from England. In Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention” he explains to the delegates why America needs a militia to protect themselves against Britain. The ending of Henry’s speech was very emotional because he compares the rich white delegates of being slaves under King Henry. Henry makes a bold statement of his feelings by saying, “I know not what others may take, but as for me give me liberty, or give me death!”(107).

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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.

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“Manifest Destiny” is a phrase that perfectly sums up the American experience in the early 19th century. During this time, Americans were moving west with the idea that they had the god given right to do so and this idea didn’t stop there. Continuing into the American imperialism ages of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the United States never abandoned the “justification” given to them by God and used this to drive their expansion into foreign nations and beyond, as stated in Document B. It could be argued that the expansion of the late 1800s and early 1900s is a continuation of the previous westward expansion, but many aspects of expansion changed during this time as well. Obviously, the expansion of the early 19th century and

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He was a highly devoted man who entered the presidency with an unambiguous plan, setting out five main goals which he successfully executed in only one term in office (Bockert par. 13). Although the incessant pressure of American westward expansion had temporarily accumulated itself behind the Great Plains, it was now about to erupt with a deluge unlike any previous occurrence (Woodworth 59; "Expansion to the Mississippi"). A new start beyond the Western horizon would prove to be crucial to Americans so Polk became determined to use the concept of Manifest Destiny. This concept proved to prompt the American westward movement and lead to a flow of immigrants, and as portrayed in the figure above, to have a massive effect on the population of

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"Manifest destiny" enlightened Americans to their right of land. It was the explanation for the war that the Mexicans could not control their extra land, so it was the right of the Americans to control it for them. When Stephen Austin and his settlers settled in Texas, it showed that the Mexican Government could not handle the extra territory. In order to get even with Mexico after the Alamo war was a necessity. Polk tried time and time again to negotiate peace but his vision of a better America and respected stubbornness allowed him to keep his mind set for the interest of the American people.

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Gunshots thundered across the Rio Grande, closely followed by the distressed cries and pain filled shouts of men as bullets and bayonets ripped through white and bronze flesh alike; the war had officially begun, but who was responsible? In the years of 1846- 1848, America and Mexico had buried themselves into a quickly growing conflict concerning what would be determined as the Mexican-American border after Texas was annexed. Texas had finally, after several failed attempts, convinced the U.S. to annex the them into the union, however Mexico immediately decided to claim a large chunk of rightful Texan land as “Mexican land” while America and Texas claimed that the Rio Grande was the rightful border of Mexico and America; not the Nueces

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The manifest Destiny is a nineteenth-century belief that the United States were destined to expand west across the North America continent. In which they would claim the land, and spread their form of freedom, culture, and democracy. Many believed the mission was inspired to them by god, while others felt it was more of a selfless right to expand the territory of liberty. This mission led Americans to move and develop the land from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

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“Manifest Destiny,” written by John L. O’Sullivan, explains how expansion is needed for america and how it could better our nation. The painting “American Progress,”supports expansion by displaying what it looked like when the settlers moved in. The text, “Reporting to the President, September 23-December 31,1806,” by Stephen Ambrose, supports westward expansion by talking about how lewis and Clarke did good things to help westward expansion. What do you think about westward expansion?

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“Frankenstein” is a Gothic Romantic book published in London 1818. It portrays many characteristics of the Romanticism period which carried the most influence in the early 1800s. This book also shows the common means of transportation of society in the year it was published, and various activities people would indulge in their leisure time during 1818. “Frankenstein” portrays numerous characteristics of the Romanticism period, which was a movement that virtually swept through every country of Europe, The United States, and Latin America, (The Romantic Era). The pinnacle of Romanticism lasted from about 1750 to 1870 (The Romantic Era), during which the “Frankenstein” was published in London 1818, causing “Frankenstein” to be heavily influenced

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The Manifest Destiny ideology, that it was a divinely ordained right and destiny for America to expand westward, towards the Pacific Ocean, was protracted throughout the nineteenth century. Oregon, which was in part occupied by England and in part by the U.S., and the lands owned by Mexico, were an obstacle to such expansion and, consequently, to the economic development. The presidential candidate James K. Polk, guided by the ideology of Manifest Destiny, promised that, if elected, he would push the United States territory westward. His campaign slogan for the occupation of Oregon was “Fifty-four forty or fight”, which was the north latitude that he intended to occupy. In 1846, Great Britain agreed to set the border at the 49th parallel.

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