Manifest Destiny: Territorial Expansion In The United States

Jhanine Senior

HIS166-86387

Manifest Destiny

Territorial expansion was a top objective in the United States during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. President Andrew Jackson seized thousands of acres of land from Native American and drove them from it. He also sponsored the legislation, The Indian Removal Act of 1830 which promised Native Americans lands to the west of the continent. Years later, however, the promises were broken. One of the most significant actions that helped to solidify the United States’ authority over America was during James Monroe’s presidency known as the Monroe Doctrine. Crafted by John Quincy Adams in 1823, the Monroe Doctrine made it clear that Britain and other European nations were no longer allowed to explore nor colonize the western hemisphere. Consequently, westwards expansion activities were intensified. A common justification for this westward expansion was Manifest Destiny. The Manifest Destiny was the belief that America’s fate was to conquer western land and enjoy sovereignty over other races. The execution of Manifest Destiny had both political and

The belief was that the United States’ expansion was a divine happening and the rights of all other races were disregarded. Manifest destiny was the expansion of the white Anglo-Saxon race influencing events such as wars and resulting in white supremacy. The white population believed they had the “God given” right to take land from what they deem as inferior races, namely the Mexicans and Native Americans. Furthermore, white people believed they could make better use of the territories they conquered and boost their own economy. There was even a minority group who believed expansion was inevitable because of the rapid growth of the white population. Manifest destiny encouraged racism, segregation, and the persecution of innocent