What is Manifest Destiny?
Summary
TLDRThe concept of 'Manifest Destiny' was a driving force behind the rapid expansion of the United States in the 1800s. Coined by newspaper editor John O'Sullivan in 1845, it was the belief that it was America's right, even a divine right, to expand westward to the Pacific Ocean. This mindset was encapsulated in the painting 'American Progress' by John Gast, which depicted a woman representing America bringing light and progress to the West. However, the reality was more complex, with westward expansion leading to the displacement and mistreatment of Native American nations and the spread of slavery into new territories. The idea of Manifest Destiny also played a significant role in the political landscape, influencing presidential elections and the annexation of territories like the Oregon Country, Mexican Cession, and the Gadsden Purchase. The impacts of this era continue to resonate in American history, making it a crucial subject for further exploration.
Takeaways
- 🌏 The term 'Manifest Destiny' embodies the 19th-century American belief in the country's preordained expansion across the continent.
- 📰 John O'Sullivan, a newspaper editor, first coined the phrase 'Manifest Destiny' in 1845, following the annexation of Texas.
- 📜 O'Sullivan's use of 'allotted by providence' suggested that the expansion was divinely sanctioned, or a 'right' from God.
- 🚂 The concept of Manifest Destiny was associated with the rapid growth of the U.S. population and the desire for westward migration.
- 🎨 John Gast's painting 'American Progress' from 1872 visually represents the idea of Manifest Destiny, with a woman symbolizing America bringing progress to the West.
- 🏙️ The painting depicts the spread of civilization, with elements like a city, ships, rail lines, and a telegraph wire, following the woman.
- 🌾 The westward expansion was not without its dark side, as it involved the displacement and mistreatment of Native American nations and other indigenous peoples.
- ⛓️ The expansion also led to the spread of slavery into the newly acquired western territories, causing further division within the nation.
- 🏆 The popularity of Manifest Destiny influenced political careers, including that of President James K. Polk, and led to significant territorial acquisitions.
- 🔄 The long-term effects of the Manifest Destiny period are still felt today, shaping the demographics, culture, and political landscape of the United States.
- 📚 Understanding the history of Manifest Destiny is crucial for a deeper appreciation of the complexities and consequences of American westward expansion.
Q & A
What does the term 'Manifest Destiny' refer to?
-Manifest Destiny refers to the 19th-century belief that it was America's right and destiny to expand westward across the North American continent, all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
Who is credited with coining the term 'Manifest Destiny'?
-The term 'Manifest Destiny' was coined by John O'Sullivan, a newspaper editor, in 1845.
What was the significance of the Louisiana Purchase in the context of Manifest Destiny?
-The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 marked the beginning of westward expansion and set the stage for the rapid growth of the U.S. territory, which was a key part of the Manifest Destiny ideology.
How did the painting 'American Progress' by John Gast represent the idea of Manifest Destiny?
-In 'American Progress,' a woman dressed in white symbolizes America and Manifest Destiny, carrying a school book and a telegraph wire, with a city and signs of development following her, suggesting the spread of American values and civilization to the West.
What were some of the negative impacts of Manifest Destiny on indigenous peoples?
-Manifest Destiny led to the displacement and mistreatment of many American Indian nations as settlers moved westward, taking over their homelands.
How did the belief in Manifest Destiny influence the U.S. presidency and territorial acquisitions?
-The belief in Manifest Destiny helped politicians like James K. Polk win the presidency and influenced the addition of territories such as the Oregon Country, Mexican Cession, and the Gadsden Purchase to the United States.
What was the role of the telegraph wire in the painting 'American Progress'?
-The telegraph wire in the painting symbolizes the spread of communication and technological advancement as part of the westward expansion and the fulfillment of Manifest Destiny.
What does the phrase 'allotted by providence' imply in the context of Manifest Destiny?
-The phrase 'allotted by providence' implies that the westward expansion of the U.S. was seen as divinely ordained or given by God, reinforcing the idea that it was America's destiny to spread across the continent.
How did the concept of Manifest Destiny contribute to the issue of slavery in the United States?
-The expansion to the west raised questions about the extension of slavery into new territories and states, deepening the divide between the North and South and contributing to the tensions that led to the Civil War.
What is the legacy of Manifest Destiny in contemporary America?
-The legacy of Manifest Destiny includes the large size of the United States, the diverse population resulting from westward migration, and ongoing discussions about the moral and ethical implications of the displacement of indigenous peoples and the expansion of slavery.
What was the role of the U.S. magazine and Democratic Review in popularizing the term Manifest Destiny?
-The U.S. magazine and Democratic Review published an article by John O'Sullivan where he first used the term 'Manifest Destiny,' which helped to popularize the concept and its associated ideology of westward expansion.
Outlines
🌏 The Concept of Manifest Destiny
The first paragraph introduces the concept of Manifest Destiny, a belief prevalent among Americans in the 1800s that justified the rapid expansion of the United States across the continent. It discusses the origin of the term, coined by newspaper editor John O'Sullivan in 1845, and its implications that the westward expansion was not just a human endeavor but a divinely ordained mission. The paragraph also references the painting 'American Progress' by John Gast, which symbolizes the westward movement and the idea of bringing light and modernity to the 'dark' western territories.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Manifest Destiny
💡Westward Expansion
💡John O'Sullivan
💡American Progress
💡Indigenous Peoples
💡Homesteads
💡Slavery
💡James K. Polk
💡Oregon Country
💡Mexican Cession
💡Gadsden Purchase
Highlights
Manifest destiny was a mindset prevalent among many Americans during the 1800s as the U.S. expanded rapidly in size.
Westward expansion began in 1803 with the Louisiana Purchase from France and intensified by the mid-1800s.
The term 'manifest destiny' was first used by newspaper editor John O'Sullivan in 1845.
O'Sullivan described manifest destiny as America's right to expand westward, given by God or a higher power.
The belief in manifest destiny was that it was America's destiny to spread across the continent for the free development of its growing population.
The painting 'American Progress' by John Gast in 1872 symbolizes the concept of manifest destiny.
In the painting, a woman represents America, carrying a school book and a telegraph wire, symbolizing progress and modern development.
The painting depicts the west as a dark place, with animals and indigenous people being displaced by the advance of American settlers.
The belief in manifest destiny led to the establishment of homesteads and new lives for some Americans.
However, many American Indian nations and other groups were mistreated and displaced by westward expansion.
Slavery expanded into the west, causing the nation to grapple with the addition of new territories and states that allowed it.
Manifest destiny was so popular that it influenced political victories, such as James K. Polk's presidency.
The concept led to the addition of the Oregon Country, the Mexican Cession, and the Gadsden Purchase to the United States.
The effects of manifest destiny are far-reaching and continue to impact American society to this day.
The pursuit of manifest destiny is an important subject in American history, with complex and lasting implications.
The video encourages viewers to continue pursuing history to better understand the impacts of manifest destiny.
Transcripts
manifest destiny
two words that embody the mindset of
many americans during the 1800s as the
u.s expanded in size rapidly
both in miles of new territory and in
the population itself
what does the term mean
and what were the impacts of the belief
in manifest destiny
let's find out together
[Music]
while westward expansion began in 1803
with the purchase of the louisiana
territory from france it intensified by
the
mid-1800s when the united states gained
the territory of florida from spain in
1819 and annexed texas in 1845
there was a growing feeling that it was
america's destiny to expand westward to
the pacific ocean and that nothing would
stop the country's quest in achieving
that goal
it was in that time when the term
manifest destiny was first used
in 1845 a newspaper editor named john
o'sullivan coined the phrase
manifest destiny to describe westward
expansion in the united states
he wrote an article titled annexation in
the united states magazine and
democratic review after the annexation
or adding of texas to the united states
he's said that other countries had been
working toward
limiting our greatness and checking the
fulfillment of our manifest destiny to
overspread the continent allotted by
providence for the free development of
our yearly multiplying millions
let's break that down
manifest destiny was the belief that it
was america's right to expand westward
toward the pacific ocean
the phrase allotted by providence means
given by god or a higher power
lastly
for the free development of our yearly
multiply in millions refers to the
desire of americans to move west and
settle in new places as the country's
population grew rapidly
putting all this together john
o'sullivan was stating that he believed
it was america's right
even a right given from god
to expand and settle in new territories
in the west
this belief was brought to life in a
painting named american progress by john
gast in 1872
the painting features a woman dressed in
white floating towards the west
in her hands she carries a school book
and a telegraph wire
behind her a city drenched in light
we can see ships and rail lines falling
closely behind her we also see a
stagecoach and a covered wagon
a person on horseback and in the
foreground farmers with oxen and a plow
in front of her the west is featured as
a dark and foreboding place
animals like buffalo and a bear run away
and indigenous people are being cast
from their homelands
the woman represents america and the
very idea of manifest destiny so popular
at the time
the artist is most certainly portraying
a biased perspective of westward
expansion
that it would bring light to the
perceived dark spaces of the world
through new communication and modern
development
the reality was much more complicated
and the impact of manifest destiny would
be felt far and wide
while some americans reaped the benefits
of westward expansion establishing
homesteads and creating a new life
others were not so lucky
[Music]
many american indian nations were pushed
from their homelands and mistreated by
the new settlers along with other groups
of people who called the western lands
home
slavery expanded into the west and the
nation grappled with the addition of new
territories and states that allowed
slavery within their borders
the idea of manifest destiny was so
popular it helped people like james k
polk win the presidency and led to the
addition of the oregon country the
mexican session and the gadsden purchase
to the united states
the effect of this time period in
american history had far-reaching
effects that are still felt to this day
and it's an important subject to spend
more time on as you continue in your
pursuit of history
hey everyone thanks for watching don't
forget to hit the subscribe button down
below and the like button to show some
love i'll see you next time in the
meantime keep pursuing history
[Music]
you
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