Manifest Destiny U.S History AP

What lead to to rise of the spirit of Manifest Destiny in the 1840s and how did that spirit express itself in the American expansionism of the decade. During the Age of Reform in the mid­nineteenth century, Manifest Destiny pervaded the
United States, destined by God. It was stimulated by nationalism, democracy, and ideals of
America to expand cultural superiority. This attitude helped fuel western settlement, Native
American removal and war with Mexico. For centuries the americans have been gradually settling westward but in the 1830s and 1840s they migrated across the continent. Thus, the
Anglo­Saxon Americans believed that they upheld the natural right to move west, bringing self­government and Protestantism. The expansion would not just give territorial expansion but also individual economic opportunity. The idea of manifest destiny held that the United States was a superior nation chosen by
God to be the best of the best. ".... the right of our manifest destiny to overspread and to possess the whole of the continent which Providence has given us” (Brinkley 352). Believers in this idea viewed their government as superior to others, and the american protestantism was superior to the Roman Catholic. The americans felt as if they were racially superior to the Native Americans and the Spanish in Mexico. Manifest destiny encompassed themes in which was expressed. Thier cocky attitude is what led to the expansion of the 1840s, which later on caused the Americans to believe they deserved the right to the territory of Mexico. By the Americans fighting for the mexican territory it is what led to the Mexican­American War. Americans also believed they owned the land of the Oregon Territory. Along with the Mexican­American War came racism, due to the attitude that the Anglo­Saxon population was superior. Thier view of themselves as superior, coupled with a belief that they were destined to do good. As Americans, ever since they declared