What is Manifest Destiny?

Summary

The 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

00:00

🌏 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.

Keywords

💡Manifest Destiny

Manifest Destiny is a belief held during the 19th century in the United States that it was the country's right and destiny to expand its territory across the North American continent. The term was coined by newspaper editor John O'Sullivan in 1845, and it encapsulates the idea that it was America's divinely ordained mission to spread its institutions and values across the West. This concept is central to the video's narrative as it discusses the historical context and implications of westward expansion.

💡Westward Expansion

Westward Expansion refers to the 19th-century movement of settlers from the eastern United States to the western territories. It is depicted in the video as a driving force behind the concept of Manifest Destiny. The script mentions significant events such as the Louisiana Purchase, the acquisition of Florida from Spain, and the annexation of Texas, illustrating the westward push of the American frontier.

💡John O'Sullivan

John O'Sullivan was a newspaper editor who is credited with coining the term 'Manifest Destiny.' His writings and the article titled 'Annexation' in the United States Magazine and Democratic Review were instrumental in popularizing the idea that the United States was destined to spread liberty and democracy across the continent. His role is pivotal in the video's exploration of the ideological underpinnings of westward expansion.

💡American Progress

American Progress is a painting by John Gast from 1872 that symbolizes the westward expansion of the United States. The video describes the painting, which features a woman representing America carrying a school book and a telegraph wire, with civilization following her and the untamed wilderness retreating. The painting is used in the video to illustrate the optimistic and biased perspective of the era, suggesting that expansion would bring enlightenment and modernity to the West.

💡Indigenous Peoples

Indigenous Peoples refers to the native populations that lived in the territories that were subject to westward expansion. The video discusses the negative impact of Manifest Destiny on these communities, as they were often forcibly removed from their homelands and mistreated by settlers. Their plight is highlighted to underscore the human cost of the expansionist policies.

💡Homesteads

Homesteads are plots of land given to settlers under the Homestead Act of 1862, which encouraged westward migration by allowing settlers to claim land and establish farms. The video mentions homesteads as a benefit reaped by some Americans, illustrating the opportunities for a new life that the westward expansion presented to some, while others faced displacement and hardship.

💡Slavery

Slavery is the practice of owning one person by another, which was a contentious issue in the United States during the 19th century. The video addresses the expansion of slavery into the western territories and the resulting political conflicts, including debates over whether new states would be free or slave states. This issue is integral to understanding the divisive nature of Manifest Destiny and its broader social implications.

💡James K. Polk

James K. Polk was the 11th President of the United States, known for his aggressive expansionist policies. The video suggests that the popularity of Manifest Destiny helped Polk win the presidency and that his administration significantly contributed to the expansion of the United States through the Oregon Country, the Mexican Cession, and the Gadsden Purchase.

💡Oregon Country

The Oregon Country refers to a region in North America that was disputed between the United States and Great Britain during the early to mid-19th century. The video mentions it as one of the territories that were added to the United States, exemplifying the fulfillment of the Manifest Destiny ideology.

💡Mexican Cession

The Mexican Cession refers to the vast territory ceded by Mexico to the United States as a result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the Mexican-American War. The video highlights this event as a significant acquisition that furthered the westward expansion and the concept of Manifest Destiny.

💡Gadsden Purchase

The Gadsden Purchase was a land deal between the United States and Mexico in 1854, through which the U.S. acquired a portion of present-day Arizona and New Mexico. The video includes this as another example of the expansionist efforts during the era of Manifest Destiny, further extending the country's borders.

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]

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