Comparing Manifest Destiny And The Gift Outright

Westward expansion involved the removal of the Indians from their land and the migration west of settlers. The strongest supporters of these events include John Sullivan - author of "Manifest Destiny", Andrew Jackson - author of "On Indian Removal", and Robert Frost - author of "The Gift Outright". The expansion happened so rapidly that the Indians opinions were never taken into consideration. John L. Sullivan believed that America was destined for greatness and had a fixed destiny. Our country will progress rapidly and forever be based on human equality. "The American people have derived their origin from many other nations,... America is destined for better deeds" (Sullivan pg.1). John Sullivan wrote as if he knew what our country would amount to. We, the American people, have taken our origin from various other nations and wrapped it all into one to make it our own. He thought that in order to maintain civilization, refinement, and human liberty, we mustn't forget the monarchies …show more content…
He didn't understand their unwillingness to "submit to laws of the states." He stated, "...the policy of the general government toward the red man is not only liberal, but generous...to save him from alternative, or perhaps utter annihilation" (Jackson pg.2), to prove that point. Even though the settlers were willing to pay for the move of the Indians, it wasn't right to assume they would want to take that opportunity. He thought that the removal would benefit both the settlers and the Indians. He thought they would have gained more by moving to a permanent residence and in turn only lose partial bits of land. "And it is supposed that the wandering savage has a stronger attachment to his land than the settled, civilized Christian?" (Jackson pg.2). The Indians' thoughts should have been recognized. The settlers had no right to up and move the Indians without their willing