Manifest Destiny

“The fulfillment of our Manifest Destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly expanding millions.”

—John L. O’Sullivan

Ever since Columbus “sailed the ocean blue” in 1942, American settlers seemed to have developed a proud and headstrong idea that their nation was superior to those of their European ancestors. This level of patriotism, nationalism, and self-confidence eventually grew into the idea of a “divine mission,” summarized in John L. O’Sullivan’s concept of Manifest Destiny. This idea, which in one way or another was etched somewhere deep inside the heart of each American, declared Americans were destined by God or some other highly heavenly force to carry out their “divine mission” and expand their nation. O’Sullivan’s philosophy was broken into three main concepts that contributed to the explanation of the Manifest Destiny. Americans thought they had the potential to be an all-mighty and most-powerful nation that would take down all competition in the world. Since the birth of our country, traces of this self high-ranking are evident in the economy of the nation, as well as war efforts and international affairs.

The Manifest Destiny was the idea that it was the United States’ destiny to take over all of North America from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The majority of the American public was in favor of territorial expansion, although some politicians and groups opposed it. O’Sullivan’s three ideas that supported the belief in the Destiny were that American expansionism was God’s will, free development, and the fact that national population growth required more land for the people to spread out upon. The proclamation that the broadening of the United States boarders was long implanted in God’s blueprint, and that Americans were the “chosen” people. This idea could be traced back to the New England Puritans, who held God accountable for their successful and growing society. The second notion, of free development, meant that expanding the borders also led to expanding the rule of democracy and the righteous and free form of government that Americans believed was the sole correct form of authority.