Causes Of Manifest Destiny

The term “Manifest Destiny” is defined as ‘obvious’ or ‘justified’ fate. First coined by John O’Sullivan, the term also foretold the duties and responsibilities that the Americans at the time. New lands and peoples were to be exposed to the blessings of democracy, some calling it a “great experiment of liberty”. The Manifest Destiny took many forms, like treaties, war, and settlement. Expansion during the 1800’s was deemed inevitable for many reasons. After January 1848, many fortune-thirsty men (and few women) dropped everything and raced to California; all had one thing in common: the hunger for gold. The Gold Rush is now “arguably one of the most significant events to shape American History” (Source B, The Gold Rush). This and many more …show more content…
The settlement and moving of many rivers such as the “Mississippi, Alabama, Apalachicola, and the Chattahoochee”(Source D, Steamboat of Clermont). With these boats created, travelers could easily reach greater speeds and travel to new riverways. The steamboats allowed transportation by water to expand and most importantly, become more easy and efficient. The surveying of the Erie Canal also played a big part in America’s expansion, because of the growing produce and goods transportation. The Erie Canal was found to be not only a “360-mile ribbon of water...and an engineering marvel” but it also “transported goods at one-tenth the previous fee in less than half the previous time”(Source E, The Erie Canal). This changes the course of American goods transportation, because now, many materials and products “traveled east as manufactured goods and supplies flowed west”(Source E, The Erie Canal). Not only did the Erie Canal create a new path for transportation, it brought and transferred produce and supplies between the east and west. When the natural geography of the Erie Canal was discovered, it brought goods and people westward, by the transportation of goods. Both the “North River Steamboat” and the discovery of the “Erie Canal” have contributed to the growth of our wonderful nation, through the innovative and natural …show more content…
immigration. All this conflict became a huge catalyst to the Battle of Alamo, the short-lived battle between Texas and Santa Anna. Santa Anna came to claim the land of Texas, while Mexico held its ground to defend it. After 90 minutes of battle, “every one of Alamo’s defenders was dead”(History Alive! Textbook 285). Santa Anna had won fair and square, but their decision to “kill every man at the Alamo(abandoned mission) filled Texans with rage”(History Alive! Textbook 285). The soldiers did not have to kill every single soldier, but they still showed no mercy. In the end, Sam Houston, the commander of the Texan army, struck back with smart and brilliant tactics, driving the Santa Anna troops out. Texas had won the Texas War for Independence, but still did not accept the loss of territory. The westward expansion to Texas has caused a small war, but in the end, Texas became the 28th state of America, ultimately expanding the nation, one state at a time. Without the discovery of many natural resources such as the Erie Canal, Gold mining in California, prosperous cotton-farming land in Texas, and the large amounts of land in the west, it would be difficult for America to expand further west. Throughout all the hardships and conflicts, America was ultimately destined to settle west. The birth of new technology and wealth aided in the expansion of America. America’s expansion was inevitable because of all the social and economic forces, and also because of the