Those who were in favor of the movement said that with the acquisition of more land, there was more agricultural land made available, which was good for the economy and for the supply of food for the people. It brought more land for farming and improvement. Without the territorial expansion, none of this would have happened.Ģ. This also made it possible for more immigrants to have a chance to start new lives. When our forefathers followed what was destined for America, the United States was able to acquire more properties, as well as gold. Proponents of the movement said that with Manifest Destiny, America became what it is today, one of the most powerful countries in the world. Generally, expansions mean improvement and progress.

Here are the pros and cons of Manifest Destiny. For others, it was more of a call or obligation to extend the liberty of America by domination over other places.Īlthough Manifest Destiny was embraced by many, it was a disputed philosophy with opposing views. In other words, they believed that it was God’s will and America’s destiny to expand into different geographies. There were those who believed that it was Divine Providence. Components of Manifest DestinyĪcting on the belief in Manifest Destiny means that Americans exhibited nationalism.

Manifest Destiny was what made America look beyond its borders and go as far as Asia and the Far East. This, however, did not take place without controversy because Texas added to the slave states of the Union. In 1836, Texas declared its independence from Mexico and became a state of the United States after the Texas Revolution. Notable figures were behind the expansion, such as John Quincy Adams who approved the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. This expansion started with the beginning of the War of 1812 (in 1812), and ended about one year before the start of the American Civil War, which started in April of 1861. The term “Manifest Destiny” was also considered to be related to America’s territorial expansion from 1812 to 1860. America’s expansion was not only focused on territory, but also on achieving freedom and economic stability for Americans.

He also punished Seminal Indians who supported Spanish troops. In the early 1800s, Andrew Jackson led an army of men during the Florida crisis and conquered forts and cities. Manifest Destiny was the mindset of the American people in the 19th century, as they believed that the expansion of the American territory from coast to coast and across North America was destined by God. This term was coined by the prominent newspaper editor, John O’Sullivan, in 1845. This philosophy is called “Manifest Destiny,” a movement that was an intangible part of American history, but nonetheless, an integral part. All throughout the history of America, there has always been a philosophy, a phenomenon that has been considered to be instrumental to man’s travels through time.

American independence pro or con