Positive And Negative Consequences Of Manifest Destiny

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“We are entering on its untrodden space, with the truths of God in our minds, beneficent objects in our hearts, and with a clear conscience unsullied by the past.” (O’Sullivan n. pag.) This quote from “John L. O’Sullivan on Manifest Destiny, 1839” demonstrates the beliefs the Americans of the time felt about moving. Westward expansion is an immense part of the history of the United States because it allowed the American culture to broaden. Many people in the nineteenth century believed that America would be a great and powerful nation in the years to come. However, these pioneers were often very arrogant and would forget flaws of their past and their government. Although Manifest Destiny was the American belief in the God-given right to move …show more content…

The California Gold Rush started in 1848. This turned California into a rapidly growing state. The Gold Rush hurt the Native Americans.The people already living on the land had never known that the mineral found in their water and soil was valuable. They were forced out of their land, and struggled to survive with the sudden influx of people. (“The Gold Rush” 191-193) The Gold Rush was mainly beneficial, but also tarnished relationships with the Native people. Buffalo was a huge part of the Native American culture. Whites slaughtered buffalo, leaving the population of the creature dwindling. The Plains Tribes were generally peaceful, but the white settlers and explorers disturbed them and their way of life. (“Plains Indian Wars” 1235) Americans were very greedy while moving west, and this caused many Native American conflicts. The Homestead Act of 1862 offered 160 acres of land to families and individuals with a head of the family of at least twenty-one years of age. Although this was a very tempting offer, once people moved out west, the land was often mountainous with rocky soil that was unable to be farmed. Settlers sold the land to pioneers who were eager to find gold and left in search of better farmland because of these conditions. (“Homestead Act” 704-706) This encouraged people to move west, even with the downfalls of the geography of the large portion of land. The want for natural resources caused many issues, but also benefitted the country by creating wealth and drawing people from other countries to

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