Oregon Country

In the nineteenth century, the young United States had focused her eyes towards the West. The country had various economic and political reasons for expanding westward, but the Americans also had created an exuberance of American patriotism during this time period. The belief of “manifest destiny” deemed that it was the destiny of the United States to exalt her dominance over the entirety of North America. This put the “Oregon Country” in the crosshairs of American expansionism. However, the Americans were not the only ones interested in this territory. The Russians, British, and Spanish had also made claims to this territory. The dispute was put at the focal point for American politics as the situation escalated to the point of many Americans…

North American continent by providing a sense of mission to citizens” ( "Manifest Destiny." Kids.Net.Au. Web. 6 May 2015). This could be defined as “ A Movement.” John L. O’Sullivan was a democratic leader and influential editor who gave the movement its name. He used the term “manifest destiny” to promote the expansion of Texas and the Oregon country to the United States. O 'Sullivan addressed the ongoing boundary dispute with Great Britain in the Oregon Country. O 'Sullivan believed that God…

feeling of cultural-or racial-superiority. Americans believed that they had a right to move west. Americans began their quest by gradually moving westward, but in the mid-1800’s they pushed across the continent in search of nationalism and social perfection. The movement began with the presidency of James K. Polk. In 1844 Polk spoke his inauguration speech in front of the country and began expanding the Union. He also began a great war with the semi-powerful country of Mexico. Texas was a…

Through many significant events the United States finally gained control over the Oregon territory. The Northwest became part of the United states mostly because Manifest destiny and the doctrine of discovery compelling them to explore the unknown. Manifest destiny means the ideological rationale for expansion across North America to the Pacific Ocean that was justified by the US in order to spread American culture. It was believed that Manifest Destiny was created on the same…

The “Oregon Fever” soon became an epidemic. Know as the "Oregon Trail," the route ran along the Missouri and Platte Rivers, across the Great Plains, and through the South Pass of the Rocky Mountains. The starting point for the 2,000 mile Overland Trail was Independence, Missouri where nearly 300,000 Americans met and traveled west; typically in a covered wagon carrying all of their belongings, inspired by words of O’Sullivan. The phrase manifest destiny was widely used and there were many…

The region was a shared territory between the United States and Britain, and citizens from both sides could access to the territory freely (Text 136). However, the number of Americans dominated the region, and they proposed the government to claim the territory (Text 136). The tension reached its peak in the 1840s, “Americans were demanding war, some using the slogan ’54-40 or fight,’ referring to the latitude of the northernmost point of the American claim” (Text 139). Finally, on June 15,…

running against Henry Clay, a Kentucky native and the founder of the Whig party who was not a strong advocate for expansion. Seeing the uproar in popularity of manifest destiny, Polk ran on a strong western expansion platform calling for expansion into both Texas and Oregon country. Polk’s supporters were keen on acquiring the entire Oregon Territory. So keene, they came up with the slogan “54 40’ or Fight!” The Whigs ran with the slogan, “Who is James Polk?” because Polk was not well known…

The establishment of the Republic of Texas and the “Fifty Four or Fight!” campaign conceived an American political system heavily influenced by the ideals of Manifest Destiny. The presidential election of 1844, in which public support for James K. Polk’s aggressive expansionist platform over Henry Clay’s neutral platform showcased the American people’s desire for the West. A combination of diplomacy and war would guarantee the acquisition of the Oregon Territory, California, and “New Mexico.” In…

who held a higher power had a large say on the idea of Native Americans abiding in the United States. Because of Manifest Destiny and the westward expansion, our country received the shape and size it is today. To begin, most government officials and those of a higher power had supported the idea of Manifest Destiny. Author John O’Sullivan had suggested that those who possessed the attributes of Manifest Destiny should act upon them (Doc. 3). For example, believers could accumulate an abundance…

During the Mid 1840’s a man by the name of James Polk took office as the United States President, and creating of the term COIL, promised to conquer, and keep California, and Oregon, introduce an independent treasury, and lower tariff rules. Manifest Destiny was a term used during these times where people thought that America should rule from sea to shining sea. Many educated Americans disapproved of such a journey, and wrote lots about reasons why it hurt America more than fulfilling…