The Westward Expansion has often been regarded as the main factor in the shaping of American history. The expansion of the United States into the territory west of the Mississippi River began with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. President Thomas Jefferson nearly doubled the size of the nation, and began the infrastructure of building what is now today the United States of America. Several played a big role in determining the nature of this expansion; Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson were able to expand westward, but at the expense of several Native American tribes. John O’ Sullivan was able to convey the idea that the US was meant to expand across the entire continent of North America.
To Jefferson, westward expansion was key to the nation’s …show more content…
The Cherokees, Creeks, Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Seminoles, referred to as the "Five Civilized Tribes", occupied land in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. They ultimately stood in the way of the expansion into the neighboring states. “And be it further enacted, That if, upon any of the lands now occupied by the Indians, and to be exchanged for, there should be such improvements as add value to the land claimed by any individual or individuals of such tribes or nations, it shall and may be lawful for the President to cause such value to be ascertained by appraisement or otherwise, and to cause such ascertained value to be paid to the person or persons rightfully claiming such improvements.”(p.2 sec.4) The Removal Act paved the way in emigration of tens of thousands of American Indians to the West. Many of the Indians resisted knowing that they depended on interactions with whites for survival while others who clung to their ancient customs, were reluctant to abandon their ancestral …show more content…
This expansion would involve not merely territorial growth but the progress of economic opportunity as well. John O’ Sullivan was influential in coining the phrase ‘Manifest Destiny’. “America is destined for better deeds. It is our unparalleled glory that we have no reminiscences of battle fields, but in defence of humanity, of the oppressed of all nations, of the rights of conscience, the rights of personal enfranchisement.” (Sullivan, p.1) Sullivan was able to produce the idea that the United States was going to expand across the entire continent of North America. Through expansion, the United States could become a recognized political and social superpower. America had, O'Sullivan argued, been uniquely chosen for the task of expanding westward, driving out the wilderness and establishing
To Jefferson, westward expansion was key to the nation’s …show more content…
The Cherokees, Creeks, Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Seminoles, referred to as the "Five Civilized Tribes", occupied land in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. They ultimately stood in the way of the expansion into the neighboring states. “And be it further enacted, That if, upon any of the lands now occupied by the Indians, and to be exchanged for, there should be such improvements as add value to the land claimed by any individual or individuals of such tribes or nations, it shall and may be lawful for the President to cause such value to be ascertained by appraisement or otherwise, and to cause such ascertained value to be paid to the person or persons rightfully claiming such improvements.”(p.2 sec.4) The Removal Act paved the way in emigration of tens of thousands of American Indians to the West. Many of the Indians resisted knowing that they depended on interactions with whites for survival while others who clung to their ancient customs, were reluctant to abandon their ancestral …show more content…
This expansion would involve not merely territorial growth but the progress of economic opportunity as well. John O’ Sullivan was influential in coining the phrase ‘Manifest Destiny’. “America is destined for better deeds. It is our unparalleled glory that we have no reminiscences of battle fields, but in defence of humanity, of the oppressed of all nations, of the rights of conscience, the rights of personal enfranchisement.” (Sullivan, p.1) Sullivan was able to produce the idea that the United States was going to expand across the entire continent of North America. Through expansion, the United States could become a recognized political and social superpower. America had, O'Sullivan argued, been uniquely chosen for the task of expanding westward, driving out the wilderness and establishing