African Americans During Westward Expansion

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Recommended: Manifest destiny and its consequences

During the mid 1800’s the U.S. government exerted policies that had monumental effects on the American people. The citizens had been directly put under the influence of Manifest Destiny. The attitude shown by Americans at this time marked the new era of travel and expansion westward. Manifest Destiny was a mission the people could not disregard, the policies towards Native Americans, policies that encouraged westward expansion, how the Americans profited by it all show what led up to mark history in the era of good feelings. The issue of the Native Americans resulted in a large donnybrook between the Indian nations and the U.S. government. First, the Cherokee nation sends a plea to not be removed from their homelands in 1830. In it the Cherokee …show more content…

The western frontier offered the possibility of independence and the government had intention made certain actions to promote such a monumental movement across America. Not only this but America's diplomacy skills had been proven over the course of the past half century. To begin the U.S. government's trek of expansion in the era of good feelings they peaceful obtain East and West Florida in the Treaty of Adams-Onis, “His Catholic Majesty cedes to the United States, in full property and sovereignty, all the territories which belong to him, situated to the eastward of the Mississippi, known by the name of East and West Florida…” (Doc. A). This was the first test of America's diplomacy and demonstrated that they were more than capably of acquiring land and profiting from it. It also showed that the dawn of expansion was on the horizon and Florida was just the beginning of it. America's policy was successful and James Polk only extenuates this. In James K. Polk reaffirmation of Monroe Doctrine speech, 1845 he calls for an expansion west to outline the modern American nation, “It will ultimately be wise and proper to make liberal grants of land to the patriotic pioneers,” this shows that Polk wanted to create a nation stretching across the continent (Doc. G). He wanted to protect those making the journey to Oregon and other territories west. Americans policy for westward expansion is …show more content…

This led to massive immigration from across the globe. It also added vast resources to the United States, both in terms of potential agricultural production and things like gold, silver and timber. It also stimulated the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad, and added new states to the country. With all of this on the horizon for America it is not surprising that they grabbed at this opportunity. The American people had a similar opinion to George A. Croffut’s American Progress from 1873, He depicts an angel leading pioneers westward, as they travel on foot (Doc. H). American Progress shows that divine beings are on their side and they should carry out ‘God’s work’. She is shown guiding the men to their destiny. This attitude towards moving not only helped the economy put positively affected the nation as a whole. In another similar picture we have Manifest Destiny personified to help show the iconic picture of the settlers moving in a covered wagon (Doc. E). This piece of art shows the treck people made to go out to the frontier, and people of all ages were willing to start a new life if that promised them a better

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    John Gast’s painting titled American Progress perfectly portrays the idea of manifest destiny that was engulfing the minds of Americans. In the right side of the painting you see western influence with the boats, a bridge in the distance, and trains with little or no track in front of them allowing the mind to think they are pushing west. In the middle of the landscape are horses, buggies, covered wagons, showing a slight increase in modernity compared to what is to the far left of the painting, the Indians, savages. Gast also places that of western influence in the light and the old primitive way on the dark. This is not coincidence, the idea that primitive behavior is improper and in the dark of what it could be is precisely what Gast wanted to present. You also see in bottom left corner an animal showing its teeth, another signal of the danger that the move west is. What is probably noticed first is the woman in the center of the painting. The angel is the guiding light of manifest destiny, the one who is bringing the light that you see so prominently in the right side of the pa...

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