Where Are They Now: Manifest Destiny and the American Dream

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Manifest Destiny is defined as “ the belief held by many American in the 1840s that the United States was designed to expand westward” (Columbia University). John O’Sullivan originally coined the phrase manifest destiny and provided three reasons behind the westward movement. One reason he stated was that God wanted Americans expanding their territory. The second reason suggested that expanding America meant expanding and spreading democracy, which would better the world. The last reason was that an increase in population required more land to be settled. O’Sullivan explained the westward movement in his article The Great Nation of Futurity as, “The expansive future is our arena, and for our history. We are entering on its untrodden space, with hearts unsullied by the past.” (“The Great Nation…”). Although O’Sullivan did not coin the phrase until the 1900’s, the idea of exploring America and discovering all of which the country had to offer was already hundreds of years in the making. Immigrants from Europe, especially, sought out America for religious freedom, new land, and new beginnings. Many traveled to America in search of gold and other natural resources. People referred to this as the ‘American Dream’ with which one can start a better life. Once America gained its independence, the natural rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness attracted even more people to make their way over to America. What also made America so appealing than other countries what that it did not have a permanent class ranking; the social class one was born into did not have to be the class in which the person died. It was not long before ample shiploads of people began embarking to America. Many people were attracted to the ideas of manife... ... middle of paper ... ...ie rapidly, but rather fades away over time. Like those child stars that disappear forever, the American Dream may just be a thing of the past. Works Cited Anderson, Hannah L. "That Settles It: The Debate And Consequences Of The Homestead Act Of 1862." History Teacher 45.1 (2011): 117-121. History Reference Center. Web. 29 Apr. 2014. Columbia University, Press. "Manifest Destiny." Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6Th Edition (2013): 1. History Reference Center. Web. 29 Apr. 2014 Mason Crest, Publishers. "Manifest Destiny." Exploration Of The American West (2003): 14-19. History Reference Center. Web. 29 Apr. 2014. Meacham, Jon. "Keeping The Dream Alive.. (Cover Story)." Time 180.1 (2012): 26. History Reference Center. Web. 29 Apr. 2014. O’Sullivan, John. “The Great Nation of Futurity.” The United States Democratic Review.Volume 6, Issue 23, pp. 426-430

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