Manifest Destiny Case Study

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1. What led to the rise of the spirit of “Manifest Destiny” in the 1840s, and how did that spirit show itself in the American expansionism of the decade?
The rise of the spirit of “Manifest Destiny” started when the American people started to believe that it was God’s plan for Americans to expand westward and grow the country. It showed itself when the United States gained Texas, the Oregon Territory, California and the Gadsden Purchase.
2. How did the rivalry with Britain affect the American decision to annex Texas, the Oregon dispute, and other lesser controversies of the period?
The British were interested in Texas being independent because it would stop America from expanding in the south and getting closer to British territory, and could be turned against America if Britain could control it. They hoped that this would lead to foreign powers challenging the Monroe Doctrine and creating cracks in the American military and government. In the Oregon Country, the British had a strong claim. They established profitable fur trading with Native Americans in the area and did not want to give it up. The few American and British people living there were living peacefully until Manifest Destiny pushed …show more content…

Manifest Destiny inspired expanding westward as the people believed it was their destiny to do so. Forces that could have stopped it were possibly the British if they would have fought for the Oregon Country to keep the fur trade they had established with Native Americans in the North West. If the Mexican War had not occurred, America would not have gained all of the land that was a result of the Mexican War. Mexico ran far north into the Oregon Territory including most of California. If the American’s wouldn’t have gained that land, things like the Gold Rush would not have occurred and Manifest Destiny wouldn’t have been able to be

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