There was strong desire for expansionism in the United States during the 1800’s. Americans believed it was their God-given right and duty to spread America’s influence over the entire continent of North America. Any opposition to this expansion should be dealt with by any means necessary. This belief that Americans were destined to dominate North America was known as “manifest destiny”. Even though one could say manifest destiny was present in America as early as the War of 1812, it gained immense popularity in the 1840’s. The idea of manifest destiny was popularized in the 1840’s due to proposed expansion into Oregon and Texas. The Oregon Country was a target for American expansionism in the 1800’s. The area had been jointly occupied by the
