Discuss The Impact Of John O'sullivan On American Imperialism

John O’Sullivan was an American columnist and editor for the United States Magazine and Democratic Review. Like any other powerful country imperialism- or rather expansionism- was important to growing more powerful and nationalistic country. O’Sullivan used the term manifest destiny to communicate the land conquest of America. Although, he specifically used the term to describe the rapid movement of America expanding. The mid-19th century belief was that the expansion of America was inevitable- it was necessary to expand from coast to coast (Opposing Viewpoints Book pg.128-129). Underlying the American mission was a feeling of cultural-or racial-superiority. Americans believed that they had a right to move west. Americans began their quest

by gradually moving westward, but in the mid-1800’s they pushed across the continent in search of nationalism and social perfection.
The Louisiana Territory also supported to manifest destiny. The Louisiana Territory was purchased from the French doubling the size of America. This grand achievement occurred under the presidential reign of Thomas Jefferson. This big chunk of land became 15 states ranging from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border. Therefore, paving a road to manifest destiny.
Florida was sold to the Union from Spain in 1819. The Florida territory was worth $5 million because it includes the present-day states of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, including New Orleans. The reason Spain sold the land because they knew that the U.S. could easily invade and take over. The Union had good reason to invade because Seminole Indians and runaway slaves were going to Georgia. In 1818, Andrew Jackson headed to Florida again with a force of over 3,000 soldiers. Spain protested, but it was busy fighting its own civil war in Latin America. It could not risk war with the United States, so in the end, Spain agreed to peace.
In 1844, Polk spoke his inauguration speech in front of the country and accepting to be a good president.

As one of his deeds, he began expanding the Union starting with Texas. Texas was a large land mass previously owned by Mexico. However, Texas won their independence and desired to be annexed into the Union. Polk began the process of annexation, thus declaring war against Mexico. The war between the rivaling countries was known as the Mexican-American War. The Mexican-American War was the first American military conflict fought on foreign soil and the first to be closely reported by the press. The war ended with American victory and a treaty that increased the nation's size by more than half a million square miles. This rapid expansion of the nation's land area, coupled with dramatic military successes and other reforms fueled theories of racial supremacy and national pride to produce manifest destiny.
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was a treaty to officially end the Mexican-American War. Mexico was defeated by America in 1847. The dispute between the rivaling countries started over the territory known as Texas. The treaty granted 525,000 square miles to the Union creating the present-day states of Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Wyoming, New Mexico, Utah, and parts of California. America also won Texas expanding America’s territory to the Rio Grande. In return, America paid Mexico $15 million and settled all previous claims between the two. The southwest region of the United

States in known as the Mexican Cession.
By the early nineteenth century, Spain, Russia, Great Britain, and the United States claimed control over the Oregon country. Oregon was an extensive region lying west of the Rocky Mountains. Spain relinquished its claims to Oregon with the Transcontinental Treaty. John Quincy Adams, in 1819, acquired Florida from Spain and gave up its claims to Texas under the Louisiana Purchase. After Russia gave up their rights to Oregon, Britain and the United States battled for the territory. Daniel Webster and Lord Ashburton discussed the Oregon issue in 1842, but did not reach an agreement. The presidential election in 1844 decided how the land was split up. Oregon was split in half at the 49th parallel leaving America with the southern half. Hence, creating a northern Border for America.
The Webster-Ashburton Treaty was an agreement between the U.S. and Britain. The settlement was represented by Daniel Webster of the Union, and Alexander Baring the 1st Baron of Ashburton for Britain. The treaty settled land dispute, which had caused serious conflicts. The Webster-Ashburton Treaty established the northeastern boundary of the United States. This act also helped suppress the current issue of slavery in America. The treaty also settled the undecided position of the U.S.-Canada border in the Great Lakes region. The treaty; however, served as a model in peaceful settlements of disputes between the U.S. and Britain.
Manifest destiny was the idea that America should continue to expand its territories because it was our destiny, that because of our sheer greatness we were obliged to go into new areas and discover and then colonize them to be our own.

The lasting impact of that notion could be seen in George Bush's idea of bringing democracy to the countries of the world. The term itself may not have the same flavor as it did during the mid-1800’s. Although, the lasting notion left on America today was because of the nature of America's superiority in relation to other countries. The view at the time was that America was bolder, bigger, better than other countries; therefore, Americans felt obliged to spread our ideals and exert influence where possible because we “should.” Manifest destiny was a simple idea that captured that zeal at the time easily used to give a “legitimizing reason” to pursue expanding the territory of the United States from sea to

sea.