Skip to main content

How did the concept of Manifest Destiny impact the United States?

Manifest Destiny was a belief that many Americans had that we should expand and control the land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. They believed it was our destiny to control this land.


This concept impacted us significantly because it encouraged westward expansion. The United States wanted to annex Texas as a state. While this was delayed because Texas had slavery, Texas did join the United States in 1845. The United States wanted...

Manifest Destiny was a belief that many Americans had that we should expand and control the land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. They believed it was our destiny to control this land.


This concept impacted us significantly because it encouraged westward expansion. The United States wanted to annex Texas as a state. While this was delayed because Texas had slavery, Texas did join the United States in 1845. The United States wanted to take over the Oregon Territory. Both the United States and Great Britain controlled this land. We agreed to split the Oregon Territory at the 49th parallel. The United States also wanted to control what is now the southwest part of our country. We went to war with Mexico over a disputed border with Texas, and from winning this war, we gained the land that now makes up the southwest part of our country.


Eventually, people believed we should spread the idea of Manifest Destiny worldwide. This led us to a war with Spain in 1898 so we could gain colonies. As a result of winning the Spanish-American War, we gained the colonies of Guam, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico. We now spread beyond our borders. This helped us become a world power.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Can you analyze the poem "Absolution" by Siegfried Sassoon?

Sure! Siegfried Sassoon fought in World War I and was wounded in battle; he spent much of his life speaking out against war, and these pacifist feelings are easy to see in his poems. This one, "Absolution," was published in 1917, the same year that Sassoon was hospitalized for what we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder. "Absolution" is a short poem that contains three stanzas of four lines each. The word "absolution" means "forgiveness," and... Sure! Siegfried Sassoon fought in World War I and was wounded in battle; he spent much of his life speaking out against war, and these pacifist feelings are easy to see in his poems. This one, "Absolution," was published in 1917, the same year that Sassoon was hospitalized for what we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder. "Absolution" is a short poem that contains three stanzas of four lines each. The word "absolution" means "forgiveness," and the v...
Post a Comment
Read more

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...
Post a Comment
Read more