What Is Manifest Destiny?

Manifest destiny is the idea popular in the early 1800’s that it was America’s God given right to own the whole of North America all the way to the Pacific Ocean. In this essay, we will look at how America gained the Louisiana territory, Texas, and the territories of New Mexico and California. We will too look at the Gadsden Purchase and the California Gold Rush.
In 1803 America gained the Louisiana territory, which started America’s move westward. The Louisiana purchase was gained by negotiation and money , which accordingly cost fifteen million. In fact, it was purchased in the year of 1803 once the senate gave its approval. This piece of land gave access to to a large area of exploration, great plains, and new settlement. It too doubled
Tension began when, Mexico decided they were going to open the border to American citizens that way their population would increase in Texas. Soon, issues began with Americans not wanting to follow the rules they were given. Which caused Santa Anna to put an immigration law with Americans crossing the border. Americans continued to not follow the rules which later caused The Battle at the Alamo. Santa Anna’s army killed many american men and sent the women and children back to the united states as a warning to stay away. In contrast, the United States saw it as a justification into going to war with Mexico. Eventually, on May 14, 1836 Texas declares its independence from Mexico signed by a treaty by Santa Anna. Texas wanted to be annexed by the United States. However, the United States decided to annex Texas eight years later. One reason, is” Northerners objected that Texas would add another slave state to the union,”(American Journey pg.846). Texas became an official state of the United States on December 9,1845. In fact, the 1844 presidential campaign convinced the union to annex Texas. Also,the land gave access to fertile land and new
Which became under U.S control by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. The United States paid Mexico ten million in return for a strip of land along the Southern edge of present day New Mexico and Arizona. An example, from the text is “With this purchase, the United States mainland reached its present size,” (American Journey pg.497). This purchase in 1853 also allowed the U.S to gain access to a national railroad. Equally important, the discovery of gold in California had a significant impact on the settlement and economy of the area. This event in history is known as the California Gold Rush. One example, from the text is,”On January 24, 1848 Marshall saw something shining in a ditch.” (American Journey pg.501). The discovery of gold was by James Marshall. The word of the discovery of gold soon spread all over the world. A second example, is “As people rushed to a new area to look for gold, they built boomtowns,” (American Journey pg.503). Clearly, California gave access to new settlement. For example, by 1852 California’s population had increased to 220,000. Also, merchants made big profits during the Goldrush,”They could charge whatever they liked because the miners had no place else to go buy food and other essential items,”(American Journey pg.504). The gold rush too expanded California's agriculture and shipping. With the increase of population so quickly California was in need of government, but