Manifest Destiny became the accepted title of the drive America had started into the west, and was the fundamental belief of American expansionism. It was the thirst for more land and the rationalization behind the acquisition of that land. That it was America’s G-D given duty to spread over the entire North American continent and in turn to spread the word of G-D across this land. In many religions there is a concept of a promised land that G-D grants to his Chosen. Manifest destiny declared America a

This concept of religious duty, however, could only last so long. In the early 20th century, particularly after World War One, liberalism and secularism was the new way of thinking in American society and the old Christian-based concepts of manifest destiny could no longer apply. People didn’t want to hear about their G-D-given duties and they wanted to keep a strict separation between church and state. From this emerged a liberal, modern manifest destiny that is still popular today. The ideas may be the same but we’ve changed a few key words. It is no longer our responsibility to Christianize pagans, but rather to democratize undemocratic societies. We are saving people through free-markets rather than through the word of G-D. It is no longer the soul that is important but rather the business-ethic. This is the modern, liberal manifest destiny. Both manifest destinies however(both religious and secular), maintained the concept of American supremacy and the responsibility of the “right” to change the “wrong,” while setting up foreign markets in those “wrong” countries. This concept of liberalism is seen in the “Roosevelt Corollary,” an addendum to the Monroe Doctrine mentioned before. In this corollary, President Roosevelt states that America, in addition to being the military protectors of the Western Hemisphere, is also the protector of its business affairs, and can step in and “protect” when it sees fit, regardless of contract or agreement.

Seemingly though, manifest destiny may have been little but an excuse at the time. A rationalization for reaching into foreign countries that American people would have imperialized anyway. There were many motives, outside of religion, to begin American expansion overseas. America was becoming highly industrial, with many products like cotton and metals. These products now demanded foreign markets. Furthermore, America was now a powerful country which could hold its head up high in the world. Prestige and ego pushed the United States to join the other powers of the world in the ongoing race of imperialism and empire-building. All this in addition to the strong religious push for missionary action in foreign countries was sufficient to send America overseas. Manifest destiny may have just been an excuse. A rationalizational keyword Americans could use when they doubted their motives. It was their DUTY to civilize the uncivilized. If they could imperialize in the process, all the better.

Clearly it was not hostility but social responsibility that caused the mass genocide of the native American people.

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