Manifest Destiny, an idea embraced by Americans for more than two hundred years, played a vital part in America’s growth as a fledgling nation. It gained prominence when white settlers reached the eastern coast and discovered a plentiful wilderness full of resources waiting to be utilized. Because of its enduring popularity, Manifest Destiny took on different forms and garnered support from various motivations. Some viewed it as America’s unavoidable journey toward becoming a global powerhouse, while others used it to rationalize their ambition for superiority over others. Additionally, many stuck to Manifest Destiny because of their religious beliefs.
The main motivations behind Manifest Destiny were to establish a strong empire, pursue superiority over others, and fulfill the belief that it was God’s will. The desire for power and high status played a significant role in driving this ideology. The founding fathers had ambitious visions for America’s future, with patriotism being a defining characteristic of our nation. Americans willingly elevated their country to extraordinary heights, considering it the greatest on Earth. During the era of Manifest Destiny, Americans held great hopes for their country’s prosperity. Since the early days of our nation, there has been an ambition among Americans to witness their country ascend to eminence.
Many saw Manifest Destiny as a way to satisfy their desire for expansion and power. The idea of America becoming a vast superpower was widely shared. The untamed territories beyond established population centers were seen as valuable and necessary resources. Albert Jr Beveridge expressed this sentiment when he declared, “we do need what we have taken… and we need it now.” As a result of pursuing Manifest Destiny, America gained extensive amounts of land. Although the country did not have the immediate capacity to fully utilize all of this territory, supporters of Manifest Destiny believed that expanding across the entire continent would bring tremendous growth and prosperity.
If America were to grow into a prosperous empire as desired, it would eventually require all the territories acquired during Manifest Destiny. This land came with abundant resources, which appeared limitless at the time. It is ironic that this assumption is proven false in the present day; however, back then, America’s vast lands and resources had the potential to establish it as a significant player in commerce and the global economy.
According to Beveridge, the American people would persist in their quest to become the prevailing global economic power. The advancement of America and the aspiration for worldwide dominance strongly boosted Manifest Destiny and expansionism. Additionally, the urge to demonstrate superiority over others played a substantial role in propelling Manifest Destiny forward. Ever since white settlers arrived in America and interacted with indigenous peoples, they have regarded them as inferior and viewed them as hindrances to their objective of conquering the vast unexplored territory.
Throughout American history, opposition was faced not only from Native Americans but also from other nations, as territorial boundaries were uncertain and overlapped with neighboring countries. The pursuit of Manifest Destiny in the new continent posed challenges due to the presence of native peoples and other nations occupying desired territories. However, a shared belief in racial and religious superiority fueled the desire to assert dominance over those hindering America’s progress. One notable figure who expressed such views was Sam Houston, a Texan hero, who believed that acquiring Mexican land should follow a similar course as it did with Native Americans.
Such strong prejudices were commonplace, relative to today’s standards. The views held by Americans served only to justify their desire for superiority. The issue with controlling vast territories is that the nation now had a diverse population with different cultures residing within its borders. Nevertheless, the majority believed that absorbing all these people was inevitable and that the benefits of Manifest Destiny justified creating a country comprised of various cultures forming its foundation. As America expanded, the indigenous inhabitants found themselves suddenly under American rule, regardless of whether they approved or not. There was always opposition to Manifest Destiny, with one argument against it stating that “we should not govern a people without their consent. I (Beveridge) respond that the principle of liberty, wherein just government derives its authority from the consent of the governed, applies only to those capable of self-government.”
Beliefs such as these were used as a justification for asserting dominance over other individuals, as many Americans held the motivation of displaying racial and religious superiority through Manifest Destiny. The idea that Manifest Destiny was God’s will was another driving force behind this belief, which was widely shared among Americans at the time. This is likely why it is frequently mentioned in discussions of Manifest Destiny in American history. Sam Houston expressed his conviction, stating, “I firmly believe that the Anglo Saxon race will inexorably spread and dominate the entire Southern portion of this vast continent, as surely as the sun will rise tomorrow and follow its course across the sky. The people placed by God in this land will proliferate and prevail throughout the prosperous empire of this great hemisphere.”
According to Americans during this period, they believe that God is responsible for most, if not all, occurrences in their lives. They attribute everything’s current state to God’s will. If they perceive that God intends for them to expand into new territories, it serves as sufficient justification and motivation for their Manifest Destiny. Greenberg contends that the belief that Anglo-Saxons were entitled to seize the land of supposedly “inferior” nonwhite peoples was a fundamental aspect of Manifest Destiny. This notion was indeed central to the ideology, and it was common for whites to feel entitled and empowered to appropriate the land from its previous inhabitants on account of considering these natives as inferior. In addition, Sam Houston declared that a divine mandate guides and empowers America in this war, ensuring the success of their army. Houston and most Americans at the time firmly believed that God stood on their side.
This was their justification to believe that it was God‘s will for America to expand, resulting in a motivating force that drove Manifest Destiny even further. Manifest Destiny was a widely accepted concept and dream during the early years of our nation’s history, with the belief that America was destined to expand and become a continental empire that commanded global respect. Americans desired their country to become a prominent global nation and to demonstrate superiority over those who opposed their aspirations. They perceived this expansion as God’s will for America. These motivations were strong driving forces behind Manifest Destiny.
