Territorial Expansion Dbq Analysis

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Within the years 1800 and 1855 an issue that was making waves in the United States was whether the country should expand in size or not. Multiple events such as the Mexican-American war and the idea of “Manifest Destiny” lead to a growing discrepancy between the supporters and opponents of expansion. Although the opponents had some valid and understandable concerns with expansion, the supporters overall had a better argument. To start off, trade was a reason that many people supported the expansion of the United States. The supporters claimed that the expansion could lead to a route to Asia and that the United States trade would flourish and the economy would boom and everyone would have their fair share of the success (Doc. F). The expansion …show more content…

During the war of 1812 an important issue was that the British had continuously harassed and attacked many American ships carrying out goods to trade, therefore interfering with the American economy (Doc. B). It’s the same situation with the expansion issue from 1800 to 1855, the people who are opposing expansion are holding back any and all potential economic explosions that could happen with the expansion of the United States. Another reason the supporters of expansion had a greater influence on the idea of territorial expansion was that these people pulled out the patriotism card. Document G recognizes how the pro-expansion people said that riches and happiness would come from the new expansion, how wealth and happiness were patriotic, therefore, necessary for the United States to …show more content…

I). These people were scared that the new governments would benefit the selected few in office but would hurt the general population, which in reality, is a valid and understandable fear considering that the beginning of the United States had to deal with an unfair King of England taxing and hurting the colonist while benefitting himself from the newly settled economy of the original thirteen colonies.
All in all, although the anti-expansion thinkers had valid issues and arguments that sometimes did show to be true, they didn’t have nearly as much influence as the pro-expansion thinkers due to the fact that the United States did extend from sea to shining sea successfully and