Pros And Cons Of Manifest Destiny

Manifest Destiny: The Debacle

In America the demand for the enhancement of political, social, and economic issues are heightened, and a clear way to accomplish that demand is growth. In the 19th century, it was believed that the U.S. was destined to grow and expand its territory over North America in accordance with its demand for more; more resources, more land, more money. Although on the surface this outlook seems beneficial, the cons are far worse. Manifest destiny was a factor in the introduction of environmental issues alongside selfish and capitalistic values.

In the adrenalized movement towards land and money man was blind to the environmental effects that would pursue. The consumption of resources caused a large impact towards

environmental issues. Trains were being built and houses were being made, therefore they needed supplies quickly. Due to the perception that the land was meant for those white settlers who found it, dire measures were taken.
Wood was needed for construction and in order to get lumber hastily, they clear cutted, destroying many natural homes for animals and plants.

The imperious men who helped abolish the land that they settled upon questioned, “what good man would prefer a country covered with forests and ranged by a few thousand savages to our extensive republic?” (Andrew Jackson). Perhaps those men who foresaw a land with “cities, towns, and prosperous farms” (Andrew Jackson), turning into overpopulation, pollution, and climate change.

1848, the gold rush hit. Many settlers were searching for money to stabilize themselves and/or their families, although “migrating may well have lowered earnings in relative terms” (Clay and Jones). Even with this downside settlers did not hesitate. Not only was there the obstacle of risking the expenses of travel in accordance with the money that they could possibly make, but there was the “obstacle” of the Native Americans who owned the land that they so desperately

desired.
Before the gold rush began, the Nez Perce nation and the U.S. remained on good terms, often trading and even making a pact of peace. Although, after January 24th of 1848 much changed. The U.S. abandoned their pact to avoid violence, once gold was wafted in front of them, and eventually after the attempts of Chief Joseph— leader of the Nez Perce—for reconciliation “the tribes melted away to make room for the whites” (Andrew Jackson). America's thirst for more was strong and nothing stopped them from achieving their dream; not the risk of hunger, the risk of economic loss, the risk of failure, not even murder.
In coherence with the selfish values stated, manifest destiny brought upon a system where the country's trade and industry was controlled by private ownership and profit, also known as capitalism.

A market base was made after the gold rush, fueling the capitalistic ideals for more. On top of this ever growing agora a new rush began in 1889, the land rush gave new opportunity for private ownership because, in short terms, they were practically giving out land all willy nilly, as some might put it, but many people staked out the land they wanted before the land rush officially began, so the people who were participating were left with less desirable plots. This brought convenience for those who could get land, but those who could not were left with nothing or died

trying.
In the words of Daniel De Leon—American socialist, newspaper editor, and politician— “capitalism first makes it impossible for the wage worker to have home and family by reducing him to abject poverty; then it forces him to take up arms to make a living and invade foreign lands for the purpose of fulfilling the “Manifest Destiny” of the class which robs and rules him. He is deprived of the tool of production and given the knife of the assassin; he is deprived of family life and given the house of prostitution.”
Ultimately, manifest destiny brought greed and bloodshed. Advancements were made, but it was not worth destruction that pursued. God would not grant any country the right to expand at the expense of the native inhabitants whose land would be taken, and the lives of those who would die in wars over territory. God would not allow the annihilation of nature or the political wrongdoings. The term "Manifest Destiny" is merely an excuse for the U.S. to take the land that they do not own and land that they do not deserve.