Nationalism Grips America

Following the War of 1812, American entered a period of history known as the Era of Good Feeling. During this time, America articulated its first foreign policy through the Monroe Doctrine and a growing sense of nationalism gripped the population. Americans started believing that they were morally and culturally superior to their Native, Mexican, and British neighbors and that it was God's will and the people's duty to spread American virtues from "sea to shining sea."

It Justifies Everything

In 1845, newspaper editor John O' Sullivan first coined the term "Manifest Destiny," to describe the mindset of American expansion. The idea of Manifest Destiny was reflected in the 19th century by the mass migration of Americans from the eastern United States to the west through the great emigrant trails such as the Oregon, California, Santa Fe, and Mormon Trails. It was used to justify the corrupt treaties and wars that resulted in the removal of Native Americans from their ancestral land. It was also used to justify the Mexican-American War, resulting in the annexation of 1.2 million square miles of land in the American West.

Manifest Destiny and the Oregon Trail - NPS.gov Video

Will Lead to Civil War

Manifest Destiny also accelerated the onset of the Civil War as it touched off intense sectional dramas between southern states hoping to expand slavery into new territories and northern states hoping to prevent the spread of slavery.

Across the Continent

Discussion Questions How did the concept of Manifest Destiny reflect the beliefs and values of Americans during the Era of Good Feeling, and what impact did this mindset have on U.S. foreign and domestic policy? In what ways was Manifest Destiny used to justify the displacement of Native Americans and the war with Mexico, and what ethical issues does this raise about American expansion? How did the expansion of U.S. territory through Manifest Destiny contribute to growing tensions between the North and South, ultimately leading to the Civil War? What role did nationalism and the idea of cultural superiority play in shaping America's actions during the 19th-century westward expansion?