Settlers traveling westward in their actions were significantly guided by confidence in their exceptionalism. Their philosophy justified expansion as a duty and the right to take the continent and spread the “superior” culture (Corbett et al., 2019). According to settlers, the benefits of culture, such as education or technology, gave them the right to gain territories and oppress indigenous peoples. The corresponding concept, “Manifest Destiny,” even appeared in everyday life in 1845. It implies a unique role for the United States in obtaining a continent, spreading democratic values and the Protestant religion.
The phrase “Manifest Destiny” appeared thanks to the newspapers’ editor – John O’Sullivan. The term emerged in the context of Texas annexation by the US – the idea had both supporters and opponents with considerable tension (Denial, 2018). O’Sullivan advocated annexation and believed that the apparent purpose of settlers was to obtain new lands for future prosperity. The term and ideas behind it had a significant effect on society. For example, the choice of James K. Polk for the presidency was dictated by his promise to annex Texas to the United States (“Boundless US history,” n.d.). The ideas of “Manifest Destiny” also pushed settlers to be more active in their pursuits on the territory. The westward movement had many consequences – from the destruction of indigenous peoples to the aggravation of the slavery issue and the laying of the civil war foundations.
Although initially, the ideas of “Manifest Destiny” focused on obtaining the continent’s lands, the term’s application changed and acquired new meanings. O’Sullivan wrote about the inevitable and obvious right of the United States to occupy the continent. Then, the concept was used to justify wars and cruel actions. In this case, the essence is focused on expansionism, and it is one of the ways to use the term. Historians can also apply “Manifest Destiny” for explanations of the vision of a particular US mission in the world – the defense of democratic values, which still affects the country’s foreign policy (“Boundless US history,” n.d.). Thus, the considered concept is based on the belief in the American people’s exceptionalism and has been influential for a long time.
References
Boundless US history: Manifest destiny. (n.d.). Lumen Learning. Web.
Corbett, P. S., Janssen, V., Lund, J. M., Pfannestiel, T., & Vickery, P. (2019). U.S. history. OpenStax. Web.
Denial, C. (2018). Manifest destiny: Creating an American identity. National History Education Clearinghouse. Web.