Pros And Cons Of Manifest Destiny

Manifest Destiny: The Debacle

In America the demand for the enhancement of political, social, and economic issues are heightened, and a clear way to accomplish that demand is growth. In the 19th century, it was believed that the U.S. was destined to grow and expand its territory over North America in accordance with its demand for more; more resources, more land, more money. Although on the surface this outlook seems beneficial, the cons are far worse. Manifest destiny was a factor in the introduction of environmental issues alongside selfish and capitalistic values. In the adrenalized movement towards land and money man was blind to the environmental effects that would pursue. The consumption of resources caused a large impact towards

The imperious men who helped abolish the land that they settled upon questioned, “what good man would prefer a country covered with forests and ranged by a few thousand savages to our extensive republic?” (Andrew Jackson). Perhaps those men who foresaw a land with “cities, towns, and prosperous farms” (Andrew Jackson), turning into overpopulation, pollution, and climate change. 1848, the gold rush hit. Many settlers were searching for money to stabilize themselves and/or their families, although “migrating may well have lowered earnings in relative terms” (Clay and Jones). Even with this downside settlers did not hesitate. Not only was there the obstacle of risking the expenses of travel in accordance with the money that they could possibly make, but there was the “obstacle” of the Native Americans who owned the land that they so desperately

A market base was made after the gold rush, fueling the capitalistic ideals for more. On top of this ever growing agora a new rush began in 1889, the land rush gave new opportunity for private ownership because, in short terms, they were practically giving out land all willy nilly, as some might put it, but many people staked out the land they wanted before the land rush officially began, so the people who were participating were left with less desirable plots. This brought convenience for those who could get land, but those who could not were left with nothing or died