Manifest Destiny
Several factors combined to produce the expansionist movement known as the Manifest Destiny. Chief among these was the seemingly habitual ambition, nurtured by the restlessness of the American pioneer spirit, to move on to new land. Expanding the United States to the Pacific involved risks, for it meant taking the land claimed or settled by other peoples. The United States, with limited military power, had to weigh carefully the possibility of hostilities with Native Americans on the plains, with Mexicoin Texas, and with Britain. The first area where the advance of American settlement caused serious friction with Britian was in the Northeast. Because of confusing language in the Treaty of Paris after the Revolution, the northern and eastern boundaries of Maine had been uncertain. As long as the region was unoccupied, this was not a serious matter. In 1838, however, the British decided to construct an overland road to connect St. John on the Bay of Fundy with Mon
Until shortly before 1840 the joint occupation of Oregon was almost entirely a British affair. At Nauvoo, Illinois, they built a thriving community of 20,000 people. The mormons moved first to Ohio, then to Missouri, and then to Illinois. Many people resented the new religion because of its communal organization and Smith's teachings that a man could have more than one wife. By 1824, however, only the Americans and the British were left to compete for the control of Oregon. The United States received what it wanted--the Aroostook Valley--along with other concessions on the northern boundaries of New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. The negotiators--Daniel Webster, the American secretary of state, and Lord Ashburton, the husband of an Americanheiress--decided that it was impossible to fix the correct boundary of Maine. The Mormon Church and its founder Joseph Smith were forced to move several times to escape persecution. When the missionaries began to farm, they sent back glowing reportsof the fertility of the soil. Oregon was originally claimed by four countries-- the United States, Great Britain, Spain, and Russia. In spite of friction and ill feeling, there were practical reasons for persuing peace. Brigham Young, the new leader, believingthat no safe refuge could be found in th United States, sought an isolated haven in territory that belonged to Mexico. An angry mob then killed Smith and his brother.
Common topics in this essay:
Joseph Smith,
Americans British,
Native Americans,
United Pacific,
Paris Revolution,
Smith Brigham,
Van Buren,
Americans Oregon,
Aroostook Valley,
Maine Instead,
joseph smith,
native americans,
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Acceptance Essays
