Manifest Destiny: Westward Expansion (Milestones in American History)

'Manifest Destiny', a phrase first used in 1839 by journalist John O'Sullivan, embodied the belief that God had given the United States a mission to spread a republican democracy across the continent. This book shows how this philosophy shaped the United States. As the population of the thirteen colonies grew and the economy developed, the desire to expand into new land increased. Nineteenth-century Americans believed it was their divine right to expand their territory from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific. 'Manifest destiny', a phrase first used in 1839 by journalist John O'Sullivan, embodied the belief that God had given the United States a mission to spread a republican democracy across the continent. Advocates of manifest destiny were determined to carry out their mission and instigated several wars, including the war with Mexico to win much of what is now the southwestern United States. In "Manifest Destiny", learn how this philosophy to spread out across the land shaped our nation Contents......Page 6 1: A Barnburner......Page 8 2: The Origins of Manifest Destiny......Page 16 3: The Early Republic Looks West......Page 28 4: Territories and National Policy......Page 42 5: Oregon......Page 54 6: Texas......Page 67 7: The War with Mexico......Page 80 8: The Fruits of War......Page 95 9: The Legacy of Manifest Destiny......Page 111 Chronology......Page 123 Notes......Page 126 Bibliography......Page 130 Further Reading......Page 133 Photo Credits......Page 136 Index......Page 137 About the Author......Page 143 As the population of the 13 colonies grew and the economy developed, the desire to expand into new land increased. Nineteenth-century Americans believed it was their divine right to expand their territory from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific. This title helps to learn how this philosophy to spread out across the land shaped our nation.