Negative Effects Of Manifest Destiny

Manifest Destiny was a critical doctrine in the history of the United States that molded the nation's outlook on territorial expansion during the mid-19th century. It was the belief that it was the divine duty and destiny of Americans to expand their nation across North America, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. The concept was popularized by politicians and the media to justify the aggressive territorial expansion and American exceptionalism during the period. The implications were significant to the process of westward expansion, leading to issues such as conflicts with indigenous populations, border disputes, and territorial acquisition. It is essential to recognize both the positive and negative outcomes that shaped the development

As westward expansion con- tinued, white settlers forced Native tribes off their land, resulting in the Trail of Tears and many other forced migrations. The result for Native countries was long-lasting and detrimental as their homes were lost, and cultural traditions were disrupted or lost. The consequences of Manifest Destiny's negative effects represented an unsustainable approach to westward expansion, with Native Americans paying the ultimate price. As historian Frederick Jackson Turner writes in his essay "The Significance of the Frontier in American History," “the most powerful agent in shaping the American character and American institutions” was the “struggle with the wilderness” that led to westward expansion. However, this progress came at a great expense to indigenous people, a cost that cannot be

This essay was published in 1845, and it expresses O'Sullivan's views on the United States' annexation of Texas. In this essay, O'Sullivan argues that manifest destiny was the primary source of the United States' territorial expansion. He believed that it was America's God-given right to expand its borders, and any opposition to this expansion was futile. The essay highlights the prevalent sentiments among many Americans at the time that expansion was vital to the country's progress and prosperity. However, some historians argue that this same belief in manifest destiny fueled the ideology of white supremacy and encouraged the subjugation of indigenous peoples. Despite these conflicting views, historians recognize O'Sullivan's essay as a significant primary source that provided a compelling justification for the United States' territorial