Many historians argue that the manifest destiny was a concept that was coined in the late 19th century in the United States. The concept of the manifest destiny was based on the idea that America was an exceptional territory that was composed of unique people in comparison to other parts and peoples of the world. According the architect of this term, the American people had a divine responsibility to expand their territory and change both the structure and the governance of the conquered territories. Many scholars have also referred to this attitude as the west-ward expansion (Garfield 47).
The expansionists in the United States used this concept to continue their conquering of territories from the Atlantic cost in the East to the west coast. The white Anglo-Saxon male felt that they were superior beings that were supposed to conquer and liberate the Americas including the Caribbean from imperialism and other feudal forms of government. One thing that is worth noting is that the territories that the expansionists were focused on acquiring were already occupied by other established civilization. For example at the west and the South of modern day United States was the Mexican civilization that had enjoyed many years of prosperity. It is these established empires that the expansionists sought to conquer with what came to be known as the Manifest Destiny. It is important to realize that there is no established civilization that can give in to other powers willingly. Expansionists faced huge opposition and resistance in the South. This resulted to the famous Mexican War (Ruiz 23). The Aztec empire that was located in the south vehemently opposed the move by American expansionists to take part of their territory. It was from the America- Mexico war that the United States was able to secure states such as Texas from Mexico. During war between the United States and Mexico many people lost their lives and huge empires that had been established at the South for many years were destroyed.
The expansionist movement in the name of the Manifest destiny led to the removal of native ethnicities that occupied North America from their lands. Native Americans for example were among the native groups that suffered a great deal during the Manifest Destiny. Like any other civilizations, Native Americans resisted the efforts of the expansionists to either enslave them or take up their land. Various attacks and wars that led to the death of many people were staged by the Native Americans against the expansionists. However, native tribes such as the Native Americans did not have superior weapons to fight against the expansionist. This meant that wars between the natives and the expansionists often hurt the Native Americans because many of them died as they tried to defend their territories. One of the measures that the expansionists used in being able to deal with the resistance posed by Native Americans was the use of diseases to kill them. The expansionists used deadly diseases to kill the Native Americans with the aim of reducing their population. By maintaining a small population the expansionists would be able to have better control of the territories that they had conquered.
In terms of how the manifest destiny was structured, it is important to note that the overarching idea that was used to justify the efforts of the expansionists was the idea that they were liberating the territories from a feudal past and establishing equal opportunities for all. In retrospect, this was not the case. The expansionists aimed at have great land and territories that would make their opportunities of success more possible. For example, more land for agriculture would enhance more food production and abundance for the people. However, this was a zero-sum agenda. This is because as the expansionists benefited by amassing more territory, other populations were killed, displaced out of their land or even at times enslaved. It was at the height of the Manifest destiny that the institution of slavery begun to become controversial. Democrats were highly supportive of the idea of the manifest destiny. They believed that the institution of slavery was justified and should remain. However, policy entrepreneurs from the Whigs side believed that the institution of slavery should be abolished. This inconsistency within the political terrain based on whether slavery is justified or not emanated in civil strife not only between policy makers but also between states.
States in the South were supportive of slavery while states in the North argued that they stood on free soil. It is important to understand that over time even some section the Whigs became more acquiescent to the to the institution of slavery. This means that the perception of the institution of slavery over time became acceptable among some part of the citizenry that was initially opposed to it. One of the challenges that the expansionists faced in being able to determine which states should be supportive of slavery or not was the latitude. Some of states such as Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas were located on mid-latitude. It was difficult for the expansionists to be able to ascertain whether those states were either in the South or in the North.
However, through majority approval two states, Kansas and Nebraska were allowed to decide whether they would allow slavery within their state or not. Interestingly enough, many people who were in support of slavery from the neighboring states of Missouri and Iowa begun to flock Kansas in order to increase the number of people within the state who were supportive of slavery. This turn of events set the stage for a civil strife between the citizenry of Kansas. Many people lost their lives in the battle of deciding whether Kansas should be a free state or should support slavery. Historians refer to this strife within the Kansas’ citizenry as Bleeding Kansas (Merk 36). This civil strife about the institution of slavery in Kansas over time turned into a full scale national war that involved the Unionists in the North and the Confederates in the South. The Unionists were vehemently opposed to slavery while states in the South fought to maintain the institution of slavery. The American civil war ended in favor of the Unionists ending up in the termination of slavery in 1863.
The Manifest Destiny and the expansionists’ attitude also put America in collision paths with civilizations in the Caribbean. The expansionists had great desire in putting countries such as Cuba under the control and realm of America. However, at the end of the century the control of Cuba by America had failed. It is important to bear in mind that the overarching purpose behind the Manifest Destiny was the creation of economic opportunities in America. In the light of this the founding fathers of the United States such as Thomas Jefferson understand that the expansion and acquisition of territory was important if the economic opportunities were to be available in the United States. In the light of this Thomas Jefferson was instrumental in the Louisiana Purchase. The Louisiana Purchase was initiated by Thomas Jefferson who bought extensive land which includes States such as Louisiana, areas of the Rocky Mountains, and other neighboring States. Historians indicate that the entire purchase was about $15 million. This was a huge investment by Jefferson but he clearly understood the importance of land if he was going to create economic opportunities in the United States.
In conclusion, the Manifest Destiny is an important part of the US history. It is through the attitude of the manifest destiny that the United States was able to acquire it form. The expansionist attitude that was exemplified by the expansionists was instrumental in the acquisition of many states in the United States such as Texas, California, and Oregon among others. Though the Manifest destiny involved the use of force in some cases, it was through the concept that principles and attitudes such as liberty and freedom became an integral part of the American society. The civil strife that resulted between members of the citizenry regarding the institution of slavery was instrumental in the abolition of slavery in the United States. In addition, the large territories, which were acquired and conquered by expansionists, created more economic opportunities in the United States considering that land is an important factor of production.
Works Cited
Garfield, Brian. Manifest destiny. New York: Penzler Books, 1989. Print.
Merk, Frederick. Manifest destiny and mission in American history: a reinterpretation. [1st ed. New York: Knopf, 1963. Print.
Ruiz, Ramón Eduardo. The Mexican War--was it manifest destiny? New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1963. Print.
