Manifest Destiny is a term used to describe the 19th-century belief that expansionism and imperialism were not only justified but also inevitable. It was an idea that originated in the early 1800s and promised to bring the American way of life to the vast unexplored territories that existed beyond the borders of the United States. This concept of Manifest Destiny had far-reaching ramifications that impacted the lives of millions of people in the United States and abroad. Therefore, it is essential that students learn about Manifest Destiny and its consequences, particularly through the study of examples that demonstrate its impact.
One way to teach students about Manifest Destiny is to provide them with examples of how it was both promoted and implemented in American history. For example, the Louisiana Purchase, which occurred in 1803, is an excellent case study for discussing the application of Manifest Destiny. At the time, President Thomas Jefferson purchased the massive amount of land from France, doubling the size of the United States. This acquisition of territory was viewed as a necessary step in the country’s westward expansion and represented one of the first significant examples of the expansionist ideas of Manifest Destiny.
Another example is the Mexican-American War, which took place from 1846 to 1848. This war was another significant event that helped to cement Manifest Destiny as a powerful and even dangerous concept. During this war, the United States invaded Mexico, hoping to expand its territory. Although the war was fought over political and economic disputes between the two countries, it was also fueled by a belief in Manifest Destiny. The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which saw Mexico ceding California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, and parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, and Oklahoma to the United States.
Furthermore, the idea of Manifest Destiny also played a role in the displacement of Native Americans from their ancestral lands. This practice is evidenced by the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which was carried out specifically to move Native American tribes from lands they occupied to uninhabited areas in the west. The policy resulted in the forced relocation of thousands of Native Americans, most notably the Trail of Tears, which saw the forced movement of tens of thousands of Cherokee, Creek, Seminole, and other indigenous people from their ancestral lands to Oklahoma.
