Mary Holton

HIS 1101 – 500

REFLECTING ON HISTORY

What is “Manifest Destiny”? According to the Glossary, it is a “phrase first used in 1845 to urge
annexation of Texas; used thereafter to encourage American settlement of European colonial
and Indian lands in the Great Plains and the West and, more generally, as a justification for
American Empire.” (Foner, Pg. A-64) This attitude influenced the treatment of Native
Americans, Mexicans, Irish, African-Americans, Chinese, and Catholics. In some ways this
attitude continues today with the attitudes over the oil pipeline in the Dakotas, the “Border
Wall”, anyone who is of the Islamic faith and the continuation of racism (i.e. the upcoming KKK
related protest in Dayton).
As our country’s population exploded due to an increase in immigration which lead to the need
for more land. New York journalist, John L. O’Sullivan wrote, “Other peoples’ claims must give
way to our manifest destiny to overspread and to possess the whole of the continent which
Providence has given us for the development of the great experiment in liberty.” (Foner, Pg.
348) This attitude helped to justify the treatment of those who were here before us. Senator
John Breckinridge of Kentucky declared, “The Goddess of Liberty was not governed by
geographical limits.” (Foner, Pg. 348) This is what lead to the outright slaughter of whole
families, and complete tribes.
Manifest Destiny gave those with political and economical ambitions justification for their
actions. These groups were stronger and had more support for the expansion into Native
American lands. They also had little to no concern for the rights of the Native Americans. Even
the Supreme Court was unable to effectively rule on Native American rights due to inconsistent
rulings. Compounding this was the federal government’s, especially President Jackson, to
recognize their rulings. After Chief Justice Marshall’s ruling in the 1832 Worcester v. Georgia
case which stated that the Indians “must be dealt with by the federal government, no the
states, and Georgia’s actions violated the Cherokees’ treaties with Washington.” (Foner, Pg.
394), President Jackson made this statement, “John Marshall has made his decision, now let
him enforce it.” (Foner, Pg. 395)
American attitudes of supremacy over other races and religions are due to the idea of
“Manifest Destiny.” This idea has led to some of the worse forms of cruelty all in the name of
superiority of race and the belief that we as Americans have the right to possess all that we
want and see. It has also lead to the squandering of our natural resources, such as land, trees,
wildlife and fresh, clean water. This is why the pipeline thru the Dakotas is such a controversial
subject. Once again Native Americans are being forced to give up part of their land, land that
they have very little of today. The argument is that America’s need for oil/natural gas far
outweighs the needs of the Native American………………AGAIN!
Manifest Destiny…………………May God forgive us for what we have done to this beautiful land
and His children.