Manifest Destiny By George Crofutt

Throughout the history of America, the country has obtained a tremendous amount of land. One of the biggest excuses for expansion was the idea of ‘manifest destiny’. In the 1840’s, this popular idea was used as the reason for America’s westward expansion. ‘Manifest destiny’ is a term coined by Americans in order to reinstate the idea that they were destined, by God Himself, to spread their beliefs. Therefore, Euro-Americans pillaged the Native American’s land, believing it was what their God wanted them to do. During this time, John Gast painted American Progress for George Crofutt, a publisher of a popular series of western travel guides. This painting, including its name, portrays how most Americans viewed western expansion as a positive
Every figure appears to be moving to the left— the ships, the trains, the people, the animals, the horse carriages, and even the clouds in the sky seem to be heading left. This is representative of how the Americans are coming in from the East and moving West. Before the city, there is an agricultural setting at the bottom right. There is a small cabin with fencing around it. The dirt appears to be sowed so that American can grow crops. There is a harness around the bison’s neck that is attached to a device used for farming, showing how the Americans are beginning to farm. This was civilization to them. From the American’s perspective, they are doing only what they need in order to progress and expand their empire in the name of patriotism and nationalism. From the native’s perspective, the Americans are chasing them out of their homeland, stealing the land the Natives had built their
There are lines following her, shining the light that she exudes. Her angelic essence is seen leading them in their journey to the new land. This reinforces the idea of the manifest destiny-that they were destined by God Himself to expand the country. The concept made Americans believe they were entitled to steal the native’s land just because they differed in culture, skin color, language, etc. Gast presents the “Star of the Empire” on the woman’s forehead, reinforcing the idea that America is an empire entitled to any action required in order to gain more land. In her hand, she carries a book that says “School Book.” Along with the telegraph wires the woman holds, the book demonstrates how the Americans are spreading their culture, knowledge, and beliefs. It is ironic how they wanted to be able to communicate with one another but could not try to communicate with the Natives. They wanted to assimilate the Natives and modernize the East and tried very hard to do so. But, as the painting depicts, the Natives were not cooperating, seeing as they are running away. They did not want to assimilate so they turned to running from the Americans. Although they did succeed in colonizing the East,