Manifest Destiny
What led to the rise of the spirit of Manifest Destiny in the 1840s?
The possibility of annexing Texas led to the rise in popularity of Manifest Destiny in the 1840s. Also, the dispute between the U.S. and Britain that resulted in America gaining more land further sparked the support for the concept of Manifest Destiny during the 19th century.
Who believed in Manifest Destiny?
Most Americans believed in manifest destiny. They believed God wanted them to settle the land that was available and spread their ideas of democracy and capitalism.
What were the effects of Manifest Destiny?
The effects of the Manifest Destiny are:
- Acquisition of new land
- Further debate on the role of slavery in new territory
- Relocation of indigenous tribes
Who coined the term “Manifest Destiny”?
The phrase “Manifest Destiny” was coined by John L. O’Sullivan in 1845.
What is Manifest Destiny?
Manifest Destiny is the belief that it is a divine plan of God for Americans to take and settle in new territory.
Manifest Destiny – Means, Causes, & Impact
Manifest Destiny was the 19th-century belief Americans had that they had the divine right/blessing to expand and settle in the west (In the North American region), towards the Pacific Ocean. It is also believed that the American expansion was inevitable and preordained. The idea of Manifest Destiny resulted in extensive territorial expansion in North America.
Many Americans believed that it was an expansion that was predestined to happen. They strongly believed that God wanted Americans to spread the Capitalist and Democratic ideas throughout North America. This belief is very similar to what the Britishers had called the “White Man’s Burden” when they justified their conquest of the Indian subcontinent.
In this article, we will look into the origin, summary, causes, and impact of Manifest Destiny.
Let’s explore!
Table of Content
- Origin of the term ‘Manifest Destiny’
- Brief Summary of American Expansion in North America (From Sea to Shining Sea)
- Manifest Destiny and President James K. Polk
- Impact of Manifest Destiny on U.S. Foreign Policy
- Causes of Manifest Destiny
- Consequences of Manifest Destiny