Manifest Destiny Research Paper

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Manifest Destiny Ethan Merrill Bonneville High School U.S History Mr. Pyper 5/24/2024 Manifest Destiny Manifest Destiny, a 19th-century doctrine, posited that the United States was destined by Providence to expand across the North American continent. This belief was rooted in a combination of nationalism, religious fervor, and economic ambition and significantly helped in shaping the nation's history and identity. Coined by journalist John L. O'Sullivan in 1845, the term encapsulated the American ethos of westward expansion, painting it as inevitable and justified. This ideology not only influenced the territorial growth of the United States but also left a lasting impact on its political, social, and cultural fabric, effects still evident …show more content…
Manifest Destiny also had profound implications for American society and politics. The expansionist agenda exacerbated sectional tensions between the North and South, particularly over the issue of slavery in newly acquired territories. These tensions eventually culminated in the Civil War, a conflict that reshaped the nation's political and social order. The war's aftermath led to the abolition of slavery and significant amendments to the Constitution, which aimed to redefine the nation's commitment to liberty and equality. Thus, Manifest Destiny indirectly prompted crucial societal changes that continue to influence the United States' legal and political systems. Modern American ideology is still an extension of Manifest Destiny. The belief in American exceptionalism—the feeling that the United States has a special, even divine, role in the world of democracy and freedom—is a direct extension of the Manifest Destiny ethos. This belief system shaped the United States' decisions during the Cold War and the recent interventions across the