Compare and contrast America’s “Manifest Destiny” of the mid-19th century with its “Imperialism” of the late 19th century.

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The United States of America was founded on the basis that we should be a free and independent country from Great Britain and its empire. Rather than simply being a part of its empire, America wanted to become its own country to fend for itself. Great Britain, after the American Revolution, realized that maybe it was the best idea to let America set off and accomplish their own endeavors. After America gained its independence from Great Britain, the Manifest Destiny became a popular idea to follow; it was God’s will for America to expand their land to the West Coast. However, after this was accomplished, Imperialism came about a short time period later. Imperialism is much like the Manifest Destiny, but in a more greedy way. Imperialism is most definitely glorified to seem like a favor America is doing—by becoming an empire—and taking these smaller nations and countries ‘under their wing’ to nurture them and teach them the ways of being a ‘civilized’ person. However, what is the reason for Imperialism being brought about? After claiming from the East to West coast in America, why would they need to expand their area further—other than ‘teaching’ right from wrong to the ‘uncivilized’ people of the world? America’s Manifest Destiny era and America’s Imperialism era definitely have similarities, such as their apparent motives or rewards, but they also have their differences, like their underlying motives and purposes. America’s Manifest Destiny first surfaced around the 1840’s, when John O’Sullivan first titled the ideals that America had recently gained on claiming the West as their ‘Manifest Destiny.’ Americans wanted to settle in the West for multiple reasons, from the idea that God wanted them to settle all the way to the West co... ... middle of paper ... ...came a long way from its liberal and independent country, the Manifest Destiny era and Imperialism era changing it to a more power-stricken individual that was becoming the thing that is hated from before, Great Britain. The Manifest Destiny era and the Imperialism era have their similarities, just like a lot of eras that succeed each other, but they also have their differences. Imperialism is a more glorified and power-hungry elder to its younger and more innocent Manifest Destiny. It was only a matter of time before America turned into what it hated, but it was up to itself to fix its behavior and become something good, and not simply self-centered and materialistic in terms of land area and world power. The Manifest Destiny and Imperialism exemplified this change and made it apparent that two eras that were similar, yet so different, could change a whole nation.

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