Skip to main content

What are three different places Manifest Destiny impacted, and how did it impact these places?

Manifest Destiny was a belief many Americans had that we should expand our control from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. There were several places that were impacted by the belief.


The first area that was impacted was Texas. When Texas received its independence from Mexico after the Texan Revolution, Texas wanted to join the United States. While there was a delay because of concerns dealing with slavery, Texas did become a state in...

Manifest Destiny was a belief many Americans had that we should expand our control from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. There were several places that were impacted by the belief.


The first area that was impacted was Texas. When Texas received its independence from Mexico after the Texan Revolution, Texas wanted to join the United States. While there was a delay because of concerns dealing with slavery, Texas did become a state in 1845.


The United States also wanted to control the Oregon Territory. This territory was controlled by Great Britain and the United States. While some Americans wanted to control the entire Oregon Territory, an agreement was reached in which we would control the Oregon Territory up to 49th parallel. This land is part of the Pacific Northwest region of our country.


The Mexican-American War also was part of the concept of Manifest Destiny. We wanted to control the southwest part of the United States. When a border dispute developed over the boundary with Texas, we went to war with Mexico. As a result of our victory in the Mexican-American War, we got the land that makes up the southwest part of our country.


By 1850, the United States had spread its control from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

Popular posts from this blog

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

How did the United States become an imperial power?

"Imperial power" is a bit of a vague label. It tends to mean several things at once, so let's unpack it. In the sense of "this country was built on conquest by force," the "imperial power" part of America actually predates the United States proper. The territories that would become the United States were imperial colonies, established by the great European empires of the 17th and 18th centuries. Much of the US Constitution and American governance generally goes back to England, history's largest and most successful imperial power, but vital aspects of American culture come from other imperial powers, such as France and Spain. Much of American culture comes from sources other than the old empires, but they were key influences on what the United States became. In the sense of "this country treats conquest by force as a fundamental component of its culture, economy and politics," the United States has always been an imperial power. Even earl...
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