Explain the concept of manifest destiny. What does the word “manifest” mean?
Question by Peter Gabriel: Explain the concept of manifest destiny. What does the word “manifest” mean?
Explain the concept of manifest destiny. What does the word “manifest” mean?
Best answer:
Answer by RED
In 1845 John L. O’Sullivan, editor of the Democratic Review, referred in his magazine to America’s “Manifest Destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions.” One of the most influential slogans ever coined, “manifest destiny” expressed the romantic emotion that led Americans to risk their lives to settle the Far West.
The idea that America had a special destiny to stretch across the continent motivated many people to migrate West. The very idea of manifest destiny encouraged men and women to dream big dreams. “We Americans,” wrote Herman Melville, one of this country’s greatest novelists, “are the peculiar, chosen people–the Israel of our time.”
Manifest destiny inspired a 29-year old named Stephen F. Austin to talk grandly of colonizing the Mexican province of Texas with “North American population, enterprise and intelligence.” It led expansionists, united behind the slogan “54° 40′ or fight!,” to demand that the United States should own the entire Pacific Northwest all the way to the southern border of Alaska.
Aggressive nationalists invoked the idea to justify Indian removal, war with Mexico, and American expansion into Cuba and Central America. More positively, the idea of manifest destiny inspired missionaries, farmers, and pioneers, who dreamed only of transforming plains and fertile valleys into farms and small towns.
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Comments on Explain the concept of manifest destiny. What does the word “manifest” mean?
manifest destiny was really popular before/during/after the american revolution. its a belief that america has a god-given right to all the land from coast to coast in north america.
for instance, california was not part of america, but americans felt that they had a god given right to it. so they fought for it, and got it.
manifest destiny was a cause of a lot of little wars and part of the american revolution.
some people didn’t have this belief, but most americans did.
sorrry…..i don’t know what manifest means :/ i just know the definition of manifest destiny from history classs.
“Manifest” in this context means readily apparent, obvious, visible to all. To say that something is “manifest,” is another way of saying that anyone can see it and understand it.
manifest = obviously clear
in the context of Manifest Destiny