Manifest+Destiny


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[|**//Manifest Destiny//**] Eliza, Megan Block 3



[|Manifest Destiny] is the belief that the United States was destined to expand from the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific Ocean. The term Manifest Destiny was first used by [|John L. O’Sullivan] in 1845. Manifest means obvious and destiny means certain. Manifest Destiny is significant to American Imperialism because it deals with expanding westward, and the taking over of occupied lands. Manifest Destiny fueled and went along with [|American Imperialism]. During the period after the Spanish-American War, American nationalism was at an all time high. Americans believed that they were racially superior to all others. Their nationalism and unity fueled their desires to expand westward in hopes of finding fresh lands to conquer, expanding their belief in Christianity to others and also finding a new source of trade. Beginning in the mid-nineteenth century, people wanted to expand culture outside of America. America wanted to spread [|Christianity,] and definetly believed that their culture was the most powerful. During the “Race for Empire”, America had felt a very strong sense of nationalism, and they were looking for a new land to conquer. O'Sullivan explained Manifest Destiny, as the "United States’ providential mission to extend its systems of democracy, federalism, and personal freedom, as well as to accommodate its rapidly growing population by ultimately taking possession of the entire North American continent."



After winning the [|Spanish American] war, the US was left with many countries that were now freed from Spanish rule, and could easily be taken over. Some Americans (the annexationists) were excited to seize the new lands, while others (the anti-annexationists) were skeptical on exactly how to do it. Both parties however agreed that there was a need in the US for commercial expansionism, and taking the new lands would help that. [|President McKinley] tried to justify the annexation by saying, “The truth is I didn’t want the [|Philippines], and when they came to us, as a gift from the gods, I did not know what to do with them…I walked the floor of the White House night after night until midnight; and I am not ashamed to tell you, gentlemen, that I went down on my knees and prayed Almighty God for light and guidance more than one night.” (Rusling 22).

McKinley then went on to give four reasons why taking the Philippines was Justifiable. The first two points were valid, “1) We can not give them back to Spain- that would be cowardly and dishonorable; 2) that we could not turn them over to Germany of France- our commercial rivals in the Orient- that would be bad business and discreditable” (Rusling 22). It would be dishonorable to give the territory back to Spain after winning a war against them for the lands. And it would be unprofitable to the US to give the territories to any other country. But McKinley’s 3rd point was very demeaning towards the Filipinos, “3) we could not leave them to themselves-they were unfit for [|self-government]-and they would soon have an anarchy and misrule over there worse than Spain’s was;” (Rusling 22). What he was basically saying was that the Filipinos; who had just fought a war to gain their Independence from Spain, could not have their freedom because in the US’s eyes, they were not fit to rule themselves. This statement made the US seem arrogant and conceited. McKinley finished his speech by saying that since that we had no choice but to take the Philippines and, “and to educate the Filipinos, and uplift and civilize and Christianize them, and by God’s grace do the very best we could by them, as our fellow-men for whom Christ also died.” (Rusling 22). The US decided to seize those territories and control them.



Many Americans were outraged with the decision to annex those territories and the topic became very heated. In the //New York Times// there were constant articles that either defended imperialism or challenged it. In an article titled, “The Future of the Philippine Islands”//,// by John Foord he says, “Having acquired the island by force of arm, there is no evidence that the public sentiment will permit of letting them go.” (Foord 18) He goes on to explain how we must take advantage of the fortunes that the war has brought for us. Many Americans agreed with what he was saying. On the other hand there were also articles like, “Letters from the People The Question of Expansionism” were authors such as Eugene Brewster wrote letters to the editor of the //Times// saying, “While we all know that the Spanish war was begun in the ‘sacred cause of humanity’, it now seems that it is to end in the sacred cause of ‘greed and grab’-as the Springfield Republican tersely puts it.” (Brewster 15). What he was trying to say was that the Spanish American war was started in name of humanity and helping the poor people under the Spanish rule, but it has now become all about greed and annexation. Brewster then says, “Is it liberty and freedom our Stars and Stripes represent? If so, give them that which has made us so happy and prosperous.” (Brewster 15). This letter to the editor summed up basically the opinion of the anti-annexationists. He finishes his letter by saying that “self- preservation” is the first law of nature and we are a nation of people who prefer to look out for ourselves first but we should put our selfishness aside and “be guided by humanity.” (Brewster 15).



This same idea of Manifest Destiny and Imperialism can be seen today in how the US handled the [|Iraq War] and also our issues with [|Iran]. Our troops have been in Iraq for over five years now and yet they have not been able to achieve a successful self-government for the Iraqi people. We have also not left Iraq because we believe they would not be able to self-govern themselves at this point in time. This can be related to the situation with the Philippines were President McKinley would not give the Philippines their freedom because he believed they could not govern themselves. In both situations the US is putting themselves above the other nations, which is an example of manifest destiny and imperialism. Another connection between the two nations is that both countries have some sort of goods that we would like to import, and would help our economy. That is another huge part of manifest destiny, taking over nations that can open up new trade for the US and bring in some sort of money. The phrase manifest destiny is not a common today as it used to be. Now the appropriate words would be to self-govern. That Iraq needs to be able to self govern itself before we can leave. To make this possible, the Iraq government needs to work to increase security, be able to have properly held elections, and to be able to rebuild infrastructure. It is believed that the United States' role is to promote good relations with Iraq, help build the infrastructure, and build democracy.



//“Our manifest destiny is to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions.”// - John Louis Sullivan, 1845

//“America’s task in Iraq is not only to defeat an enemy; it is to give strength to a friend--a free, representative government that serves its people and fights on their behalf.”// //—President George W. Bush//

//"Due to your inability to self-govern, your independence has been revoked."// - John Cleese



code __**Works Consulted**__ code code code code Brewster, Eygene V. "Letters From the People The Question of Expansionism." __ProQuest Historical Newspapers__. ProQuest. 2 May code code 2007 . code

code Foord, John. "The Future of the Philipine Islands ." __ProQuest Historical Newspapers__. ProQuest. 2 May code code 2007 . code

Kutler, Stanley I. “Manifest Destiny” __Dictionary of American History.__ Volume 5. Thompson Gale. 2003.

code Macasaet, Carlos. "American Imperialism in the Philippines." __http://www.solowey.net/__  3 May 2007 . code

code code code O'Sullivan, John. "John L. O'Sullivan on Manifest Destiny, 1839 ." __[|http://www.civics-online.org__.] 3 code code May 2007 . code code code code

code http://www.smplanet.com/imperialism/cartoon.html (Picture) http://www.msstate.edu/Archives/History/USA/filipino/filipino.html (picture)

[|http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/7/7f/350px- Westward_the_Course_of_Empire.jpg] (picture) http://www.accd.edu/pac/history/rhines/images/AmericanProgress2.bmp (picture) http://www.pbs.org/kera/usmexicanwar/prelude/md_manifest_destiny2.html (pixture)

http://www.pbs.org/kera/usmexicanwar/prelude/md_manifest_destiny.html (picture)

http://www.historyplace.com/specials/calendar/docs-pix/mckinley.jpg (picture)