The Pros And Cons Of Manifest Destiny

Manifest Destiny was the belief in the 19th century that the United States was destined to expand westward, from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast, in order to spread American values and institutions. This belief was used to justify the forced removal of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands, as well as the annexation of Texas, the Mexican-American War, and the Oregon Treaty. One of the main arguments given by supporters of Manifest Destiny was that it was a God-given mission for the United States to expand westward and bring Christianity and "civilization" to the "savages" who lived in the western territories. Manifest Destiny provided a religious and cultural justification for American expansion across the continental United States, with the belief that the destiny of the United States was to spread democratic institutions "from sea to shining

They pointed out that the forced removal of Native American tribes from their lands resulted in the deaths of thousands of people and the destruction of their cultures. Additionally, they argued that the annexation of Texas and the Mexican-American War were driven by the desire for new slave states rather than a desire to spread American values and institutions. Another argument was that Manifest Destiny would lead to the extinction of the Native American culture and the displacement of the native population. The belief in manifest destiny was racist and promoted the idea that white Americans were superior to other races. The opponents also argued that the acquisition of new territories would lead to more conflicts and wars with other countries, as well as increased tensions between the North and the South over the issue of slavery. The belief in manifest destiny was a justification for imperialism and territorial