Manifest Destiny - Natalea Odell

Manifest Destiny

https://americanexperience.si.edu/historical-eras/expansion/pair-westward-apotheosis/

Most American citizens are aware of the term “Manifest Destiny”. It was taught, at least to me, and probably most other American public school children, in history classes. The Smithsonian American Art Museum defines manifest destiny as “the concept of American exceptionalism, that is, the belief that America occupies a special place among the countries of the world.” In other words, it is our duty to settle, conquer, and prosper. This idea led to several positive and negative outcomes. It was through this ideology that white people displaced, and even killed, native people. Each of these aspects have been prominent in pop culture, being the basis for several movies and tv-shows. 

It is thought that the Louisiana purchase fed into the desire and hunger to expand across the country. The Louisiana purchase was a purchase of western land from France which was then explored by the famous Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Over the next fifty years, the nation would greatly increase its land ownership. Manifest destiny is a dominant thought in the American mind, even today.

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