Manifest Destiny Definition

Manifest Destiny was an idea defined by John L. O'Sullivan that it was the god given right of the of the American people to expand westward, to christianize and to utilize the land. Many things brought people West but One things that stood from the rest is the California Gold Rush of 1848. Many things happened out West that some view differently including wars and disagreement over land with other powerful Countries. But some question that; Although Americans perceived Manifest Destiny as a benevolent movement, it was in fact a barbaric expansion accompanied at the cost of others. This statement is partly true because Manifest Destiny created greed and violence with it but also lead to great success in some parts including the advances
The Maine tension started when Great Britain wanted to build a road from Halifax to Quebec through territory claimed by Great Britain. This act of Great Britain was perfectly justifiable because it was their land but America, as an act of greed, sent militian troops to stop them because they believed Great Britain was building tension on purpose which most likely was not the case. Along with America acting unfairly this also started a small war called the “Lumberjack War” in 1842 which was a group of militiamen in Maine against a Canadian militia in an undeclared war. America eventually won the short war taking Maine from Great Britain and forcing them to build their road around Maine instead. At this time America also had a lot of financial ties with Great Britain including debt owed to them by American banks. America also brought tension with the Oregon territory. Americans wanted to settle on a 54°40 line which gave the US more land than Britain this was an act of greed because while Great Britain made a peaceful stanza over the line, James Polk cried 54°40 or fight. This was creating unwanted tension between the two countries which inevitably won in favor of British in the end with a 49°