1. © Mark Batik Jesuit College Preparatory
Manifest Destiny
© Mark Batik
Jesuit College Preparatory

3. Manifest What? John L. O’Sullivan coins the phrase a democratic editor
“The right of our manifest destiny to over spread and to possess the whole of the continent which Providence has given us for the development of the great experiment of liberty and federaltive development of self government entrusted to us. It is right such as that of the tree to the space of air and the earth suitable for the full expansion of its principle and destiny of growth.”

4. What does it mean to say that America is exceptional?

5. Key Themes
Virtue (american exceptionalism)
Mission
Destiny

6. What would be signs of divine providence signaling appreciation for the American project?

7. What did it mean?
A conviction that God intended North America to be in control of the United States and the American people.
A justification post hoc for what was already going on and
Something of a phenomenon, movement, and systematic body of thinking

8. Desire to explore and conquer

9. Nationalism
“...It is confidently believed that our system may be safely extended to the utmost bounds of our territorial limits, and that as it shall be extended  the bonds of our Union, so far from being weakened, will become stronger...”
 ~ From the inaugural address of James K. Polk,  11th President ( )

10. Religion
Conrad Cherry—“America is a nation called to a special destiny by God.”
John Winthrop—“America had been providentially chosen for a special destiny.”
Great Awakenings
Mormons

11. Historic Mission
Creation of the sentiment for expansion but not the policy

12. Trade with the far east

13. Security on the borders

14. Progress

15. High population growth

16. Rise of Agriculture

17. Other Economic/Agriculture factors
1818, 1839 economic depressions
Cheap land
Desire for land ownership
Technological advances
Agrarian ideal
Slave states

18. Is Manifest Destiny the reason or the justification for American expansion?
What would the United States look like without such a dominant belief in the 19th century?