Jenny Trevizo AP US History Mr.

Moltz Manifest Destiny Make way for the young American Buffalohe has not yet got land enough, remarked an American politician in 1844. By then, the United States had attained the Louisiana territory from the French and Florida from the Spanish and the nation was eyeing the territories of Mexico stretching beyond the Louisiana Purchase, large parts of central Illinois, southern Georgia, and western Virginia were still only at a frontier stage(Degler 115). Although the American people believed that their country had a special, even divine, mission, the way they attained land was by taking advantage of other people in a belligerent manner. They exiled Native Americans to other territories, attained lands cheaply from the French and Spanish, and by fought wars (Davidson 378). Americans living in the early 1800s had a longing for western expansion. John OSullivan, a New York editor addressed this point by saying that the fulfillment of our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly millions. He spoke of extending democracy and religion to the western territories. His ideas were extremely popular and soon sprung up in newspapers and common talk throughout the country. John Gasts painting Manifest Destiny shows a woman known as the Spirit of Progress with the Star of Empire on her forehead. You also see Indians and wild animals retreat in the face of advancing progress, illustrated by white settlers and farmers, railroads and other forms of transportation, telegraph lines, school symbolized by a book, and, in the distance,

cities(Davidson 378). Americans felt empowered by the idea of Manifest Destiny and felt that they had the God given right to govern over all other races. For example John OSullivans Democratic Review, said that the Mexican race must amalgamate and be lost, in the superior vigor of the Anglo-Saxon race(Davidson 379). American expansion took great toll on how Native Americans lived their life. Increasing settlers scared off game and reduced buffalo herds, overgrazed grass, and depleted the supply of wood(Davidson 383). They took advantage of the Siouxs alliance and ruined their main sources of life. When asked to pay for having wagons crossing their lands, Americans were enraged and accused the Sioux of robbery. Natives attacked the white settlers and although 4% died because of Native attacking more Natives died due to whites. Government forced Plains Indians to Fort Laramie to come to an agreement where the government promised to give the Indians compensation as long as they confine themselves to north or south of the Overland Trail. Most Natives refused and did not pay attention. Many of the land that the United States gained was purchased. The Louisiana Purchase was an accidentanother of those instances where Europes distress was Americas gain(Degler 115). Although Jefferson would have been content by just purchasing New Orleans, the needs of the French ruler made it possible for the American ministers to purchase half the land between the Mississippi River and the Rocky mountainsand for a mere $15 million(Degler 115-6). Because Napoleon wsa in need of money to raise his army, he encouraged the Americans to buy New Orleans port and the rest of what is known today as the Louisiana purchase for a cheap price. The Americans took advantage of the Frenchs needs and bought the land. An English traveler

observes that the possession of land is the aim of all action andcure for all social ills, among men in the United States explaining that the aggressive expansion ideals were very popular at the time. Not only did they gain Louisiana, they also gained Oregon. Polk also negotiates with the British to attain the Oregon Treaty making the boundary line between America and British land the 49th parallel. The Gadsden Purchase also acquired pieces of what now is New Mexico and Arizona and the southern border is cmplete when John Quincy Adam purchases Florida from the Spanish. During the 1820s a vast number of Americans settled in the northern part of Mexico. The American settlers soon outnumbered the Mexicans living in northern Mexico. Because Mexicos center of power was far lower down in the country, the Mexican influence in northern Mexico was not strong. Although new settlers had to convert to Catholicism and speak Spanish, most did not pay attention to the rules the Mexican government set. Conflicts arose, Mexico talked of abolishing slavery in Texas, Santa Anna passed legislation striping the states of their power and centralizing it (Davidson381). The new settlers were strong enough to carry out a successful revolt against Mexican authority(Degler 117). It was described by Harriet Martineau as the most high-handed theft of modern times. This once again shows how the United States acquired land by taking advantage of another country. They did not only stop at Texas, Americans also gained the rest of the territory leading up to the Pacific sea by force from Mexico. Manifest Destiny was a loose term thrown around in the 19th century to give reason why to take advantage over other people and rob them of their lands. Although it was described that they had the God given right to own the land and to share Democracy

and Christianity with the rest of the world that is not why they did it. Many people, from the Natives to Mexicans had to move from where they were living to accommodate the Americans. Americans cheated other people, either by war or by cheap deals, into getting their land.