Manifest destiny - justify expansion?!? HELP!?

Question

Hey, I don't get this at all!!

What was manifest destiny and how did it justify expansion?

I know manifest destiny was like america can expand all the way to pacific at it's own will and destiny (correct me if i am wrong!!) But how did it justify expansion?!

I am not familiar with this country's history and still learning as i just came from another country!!

Thank you for help!

Answer 1

You are quite right. Manifest Destiny was the idea that the US had the right to all the territory to the Pacific, justified by nothing. There was a jolt of it in the conflict with Great Britain over the Oregon Territory in 1845, but it was the sole reason for the Mexican War of 1846-48. Opposed by abolitionists (or anti-slave-state dominationists), this war ultimately doubled the country's size. Like it or not, the result of this kind of nonreasoning expansionism is what we have today.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

It doesn't explain it. It was a different time. One must think of the time when manifest destiny was taking place. It was the time of colonialism. All the European powers and the United States were expanding their empires around the world (this dose not excuse the actions of the United States.) Instead I say it was an excuse for White settler (I am a white American) to take lands from the Native Americans; much in the same way the British took lands from the Indians (the Indians in India) and the Chines (sorry Birts you did do that; at one point "The sun never set on your empire".) However, this dose not justify Manifest Destiny. Nothing can justify (MD) it was a sign of the times; it was theft to build a nation simple as that.

Answer 4

So, I see you are writing a paper HAHA. Manifest Destiny was the notion that America, as a nation, had the God-given right to expand all the way to the Pacific ocean, and inhabit all the lands in between. This idea is what fueled American policy and practice for much of the 18th and 19th centuries, certainly, and some may even argue into the 20th C. (as in the forcing of Native Americans onto reservations and into boarding schools). Because of Manifest Destiny, many wars were fought between Colonialists and later Americans, and Native Americans, Mexicans, French, and English.

Answer 5

Manifestation Miracle Live Your Dreams!

Answer 6

See here:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=define%3A+manifest+destiny

Essentially, it was a policy in the 19th century that America followed to justify the expansion to the west. The belief that it was our destiny (ordained by god) to occupy the whole country was made policy and deemed inevitable.

I like Princeton's take on it:
"A policy of imperialism rationalized as inevitable (as if granted by God)"

Hope this helps!

Answer 7

manifest destiny was just the way that american decided to expand our country and defend it from any opposing countries that may try to stake a claim to stratigic lands. there's really no justification for why they thought they could do it. that's just how countries did things back then.