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Manifest Destiny


A few even expected to become a nation similar to the former Roman Empire, controlling the entire known world. There was also the issue of how the goal of western expansion should be accomplished. Many American believed in a gradual, peaceful assimilation of native people into white American society. A minority believed that a swift forceful takeover was the only way that America would carry out its goal of expansion. The Minority opinion soon won out. The acquisition of Texas, through heavy American immigration to the territory, into the Union merely increased proponents" of Manifest Destiny appetites for more land and further expansion. John L. O"Sullivan reflected this attitude in a portion of an editorial piece titled "Manifest Destiny" . He states that there should have been no question as to whether or not Texas should have been allowed into the Union. He argues that those who were against the attainment of Texas were merely trying to frustrate the fulfillment of their manifest destiny to use God-given land for the development of the rapidly growing nation. He implies that it is going against God's will to not expand the United States further. This type of thinking reassured the leaders of the 19th century to expand as far as possible. .
             Though deeply rooted in politics, Manifest Destiny was also born of the concept of white supremacy. In its historical context this was not thought to be nearly as horrible as it is thought of today. In a speech presented before the U.S. Senate in May1846, Senator Thomas Hart Benton seeks to justify westward expansion by stating that Caucasian people have long heeded God's call for the uplifting of humanity. He sites the migration of the tribes of Mongolia to what is now Northwestern Europe, the Enlightenment Period and his opinion that "black and red races have often felt their ameliorating influence." This type of thinking was quite prevalent during this time period.


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