Manifest Destiny
In 1845, the idea that the United States had a duty to expand from the Atlantic to the Pacific became known as the manifest destiny. The religious fervor spawned by the Second Great Awakening created another incentive for the drive west. Indeed, many settlers believed that God himself blessed the growth of the American nation.
Expanding the boundaries of the United States was in many ways a cultural war as well. The desire of southerners to find more lands suitable for cotton cultivation would eventually spread slavery to these regions. North of the Mason-Dixon line, many citizens were deeply concerned about adding any more slave states. Manifest destiny touched on issues of religion, money, race,patriotism, and morality.
We don't know what we feel about the idea of Manifest Destiny. At the time it seemed like a good idea, because they needed to expand and show their strength as a country, and the crops they would produce would be great to sell, and also boost their economy. The down side of it was that the land they were in was already inhabited. So they stole the Native Americans land, and created mass genocide. There about 2.5 million people of Native American descent. If they never expanded America would be a very different country. So it's a downside and upside situation.
In the video below, it shows a simplified rap about how Native Americans suffered and had to move because of America expanding West.
Expanding the boundaries of the United States was in many ways a cultural war as well. The desire of southerners to find more lands suitable for cotton cultivation would eventually spread slavery to these regions. North of the Mason-Dixon line, many citizens were deeply concerned about adding any more slave states. Manifest destiny touched on issues of religion, money, race,patriotism, and morality.
We don't know what we feel about the idea of Manifest Destiny. At the time it seemed like a good idea, because they needed to expand and show their strength as a country, and the crops they would produce would be great to sell, and also boost their economy. The down side of it was that the land they were in was already inhabited. So they stole the Native Americans land, and created mass genocide. There about 2.5 million people of Native American descent. If they never expanded America would be a very different country. So it's a downside and upside situation.
In the video below, it shows a simplified rap about how Native Americans suffered and had to move because of America expanding West.