...In his paper “Benito Cereno” and Manifest Destiny, Allan Moore Emery offers a well-structured and informative presentation of the development of American expansionism, placing Melville’s novella in contemporary political and historical context. More specifically, the paper deals with the concept of Manifest Destiny developed in Benito Cereno, which Emery defines as “the mind-set of those many Americans who fancied themselves citizens of an elect nation, destined by Providence to govern the globe” (49). In his argument, Emery employs an interesting analogy: San Dominick is a symbol of the Spanish empire. Its “disorderliness” stands for the “anarchy” found by American expansionists in Latin America, while this confusion is attributed to Cereno’s incapability as leader and his weak style of command. Delano’s plot to take control of Cereno’s vessel anticipates American interventionism in the Caribbean, it is argued. However, Manifest Destiny is portrayed in an adverse fashion, considering the fact that the invasion of San Dominick is not motivated by the desire to change the condition of the oppressed, but by mere desire for material gain. The term exceptionalism is not explicitly mentioned, but Emery is clearly hinting at it being the justification for territorial expansion. Manifest Destiny is, as claimed by Emery, a mere rhetorical camouflage for a largely political enterprise (54). Another interesting political instance, according to the author, is when Delano attempts to buy...
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...that come together in a beautiful, yet sorrowful, statement of the emotions of an entire people. The most prominent tool employed by Seattle is pathos, particularly drawing pity from the listener by expounding upon the centuries of woe experienced by the native Americans. Halfway through the oration, Seattle shifts the focus towards the dead, and uses references to his race’s ancestry as a method of emphasizing the impact of everyone’s life and history on the future. The appeal to emotion in the oration begins almost immediately. Seattle appeals that “Yonder sky has wept tears of compassion on my people for centuries.” This statement digs deep into the hardships that th Native Americans faced upon the white man’s continuum of manifest destiny. Personification is also heavily employed to touch the listener’s hearts; phrases such as “weeping clouds” and describing his people as “scattering trees of a storm-swept plain” emphasize the suppression of his people, ravaged and demoralized by the intrusive Americans. Creating even more empathy for his cause, Seattle tells us of the times of glory experienced by the native Americans, which starkly contrast the woeful situation of modern-day native Americans. Seattle uses spiritual parallels of two different Gods to show how the white man has justified their actions through a system designed to justify their actions. The listener can feel the sorrow of Seattle through his displayed emotions. The next major trend of conveyance...
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...In the early 1800’s, the words “Manifest Destiny” were cleverly coined by John O’Sullivan to describe the speedily growing country. These words inspired many Americans to travel west. This simple phrase meaning obvious fate helped shape our nation and greatly affected how it is today. In this mind-set we fought a war with Mexico over its claims to much of the western territory in North America. Our country grew with the addition of new land when the war ended. At the time, many Americans felt it was their duty to move west. By 1848 the unbelievable had happened, the United States tripled in size from the original few eastern states with a total of about thirty states. Many Americans felt that it was their right and duty to move west because...
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...Manifest Destiny was a nineteenth-century belief that held that the United States was destined to span across the American continent. Manifest Destiny, to a significant extent, played a major role in dividing the Union from the 1830 to 1860. Manifest Destiny stimulated the territorial expansion of the United States from sea to shining sea. The admission of these territories as new states lead to the major divisions and conflicts across the country on the issue of whether they are to be admitted as free or slave states. The American expansionist belief known as Manifest Destiny took decades to develop until solidification in the minds of Americans. During the nineteenth century English-Americans settled in the West starting in Texas and continuing...
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...CHAPTER 17: Manifest Destiny and Its Legacy (1841–1848) 1.) What was THE principal concern of American diplomacy & politics throughout the entire 1840s? • Territorial Expansion 2.) What was the "Maine Controversy? • Misleading peace treaty of 1783 3.) Who were the contenders in the party? • Canada and Maine 4.) In the United States from 1829 up to (and including 1860) how many antebellum presidents were where? • 9 5.) If in 1836 Texas had won its independence, why would Great Britain care about Texas independence in the 1840s? • It would stop southward expansion for the US 6.) In the presidential campaign of 1844 what was THE #1 issue confronting the contenders? • Texas 7.) Where was James K. Polk originally from? • North Carolina 8.) Who would have advocated "Texas or disunion," what geographic region would that person - most likely - have been from? 9.) Added to the Union in _______ Texas was what # state? • 1845 • 28 10.) By the opening salvos of the American C.W. how many states were there in the Union? • 34 11.) Regarding Oregon, which FOUR countries laid claim to it (and which TWO dropped out of the race for Oregon)? • Spain Russia Britain US 12.) THE principal waterway (river) in the Oregon controversy was what? • Columbia River 13.) Considered the "St Lawrence of the West" what is being spoken of? 14.) How is "Oregon Fever" explained? • In the 1840s Americans settled south of the Columbia River 15.) As the 11th president of...
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...Manifest Destiny is a strong platform that helped Americans build up their national spirit and the idea of unity as well as set ground for economic development. However, used under this pretext, it clearly stood for territorial pretentions of the USA within the continent. Civil Rights Act of 1875 is a piece of legislature that guaranteed America’s steady direction for racial equality and freedom of every citizen regardless of their skin color. With equal rights to public access, the idea was aimed at promoting racial tolerance and respect. Samuel J. Tilden is a good example of the person who can sacrifice his ambitions for the greater good. Adhering to authoritative decisions that contradicted the way circumstances favored him, Tilden proves...
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...Critical Analysis of Westward Expansion “Go west, young man”. It was the phrase of the 19th Century advocating for Manifest Destiny. Manifest Destiny was the idea that settlers were destined to expand to the west. “Americans not only considered Westward expansion a desirable objective but an endowment from God through which they could take their democratic republicanism across North America (Dobson, 2013). There were many factors that urged westward expansion, but the most common reasons for settlers were for the social environment, the natural environment, and the economic opportunities. The social environment of the west included the idea of freedom and the idea of Native American interaction. The natural environment was thriving in the west as gold and other precious minerals were discovered throughout westward expansion. The economic opportunities in the west were almost endless. As settlers took adapted Manifest Destiny, opportunist and businessmen took it towards their advantage...
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...The new country of the U.S. began rapid expansion. Initially, by the 1830-40’s America was expanding into the southwest. John L. O’Sullivan, Ney York journalist captured the phrase “manifest destiny” in the 1840’s. The idea of manifest destiny was developed. Manifest destiny was the belief or doctrine, held chiefly in the middle and latter part of the 19th century, that it was the destiny of the U.S. to expand its territory over the whole of North America and to extend and enhance its political, social, and economic influences. (Dictionary .com). Manifest destiny was substantial in the U.S. to justify an imperialistic grab of Mexican land in California, Texas, and New Mexico. Expansion into the western frontiers offered opportunities for self-advancement....
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...1890s saw an expansion on US imperialism of American territory, as a result of economic, political, and cultural factors with justifications on acquiring more land, power, and resources. Many Americans believed U.S had to expand to increase population, wealth, and industrial production which demanded more resources. So, therefore, US took control of other territories such as Hawaii, Cuba, and Panama to impose its own beliefs of government and culture on the people. The United States encouraged these territories to become independent from other nations so that they would be more beneficial to us. Although we freed these territories from their restraining governments, it was only in our own interest. It started during the 1840s with the manifest destiny which was used to warrant the expansionist movements of that time. Expansionist used the population growth and close frontier to support their intentions on conquering new territories. Expansion would lead to economic advantages such as trade with new colonies and Asia which at that time was becoming increasingly important to American economy in the late 19th century. Another argument expansionist used was to prevent other countries and colonies from gaining more land and they also felt the need to rival with the other imperialist countries. They had a desire to compete with Europe for overseas empires. The U.S. sought for international statues like the Great European Powers (Europe had taken 20 percent of the land and 10 percent of...
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...Prompt: Explain how Stephen Ambrose reveals his purpose in “Thomas Jefferson’s America, 1801.” Consider his language and his choices regarding individuals and events to reveal his purpose. Cite specific textual evidence to support your analysis. Thomas Jefferson took Oath of Office as the third president on March 4th, 1801. Jefferson had a marvelous imagination, and many ideas about Westward Expansion. He used individuals and resources along the way for the expansion. Without the expansion, we would not have our roadways, faster travel, or shipping like we do now. An author Stephen Ambrose, reveals his purpose of informing through language, choice of individuals, and his choice of events included in “Thomas Jefferson’s America, 1801.” Ambrose talks about how Jefferson used individuals to expand the West. Jefferson sent two men named Lewis and Clark to discover the U.S. territory. As they were traveling, they came into contact with Indians. Jefferson was fond of the Indians, more so than the Negroes. Ambrose states, “He thought of Indians as noble savages who could be civilized and brought into the body politic as full citizens” (55). The Indians helped Lewis and Clark with the discovering of the land that later became our roadways and developments. Along with the individuals used, Ambrose talks about events that led to the Westward Expansion. Jefferson always loved the land and wanted the whole Nation to be one. Ambrose states, “The idea of progress based on technological...
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...The belief of Manifest Destiny during the 1830’s to 1860’s along with territorial expansion in the United States played a major role in uniting the country. Territorial expansion contributed to the unification of the U.S. economically politically and socially. The term manifest destiny originated in the 1840’s expressing not only the expansion of land but also individual, political and economic expansion as well. Manifest Destiny created this vision for Americans that they had the right and the authority to unite together and take the land west of what they owned. Socially slavery would become an issue, economically the economy would become stable, and politically allies would be created through war. The belief of manifest destiny and action of territorial expansion unified the United States through multiple different scenarios. The political affect of expansion united the Americans in such cases as the U.S. Mexican War. War would bring the common people together to fight against a common enemy (Doc. 2). We can see that because of Americans ideal belief in manifest destiny it created a situation where we wanted land and decided to take it deliberately causing the U.S. Mexican War unifying the people of the United States as a whole. Wining this...
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...Manifest Destiny, the idea of expanding westward and bringing on new technologies to the people that inhabit the unforgiving lands, began to spread across the United States in the 19th century. People in the eastern United States had varying ideas of how to generate profit, how to govern themselves or how the federal government should govern them, and how to provide a safe and healthy environment for their families. The citizens of the North primarily functioned on factory work and manufacturing profits, whereas the citizens of South was primarily based on farming and slave labor. The two often fought when it came to internal improvements, tariffs, and slave versus non-slave statehood. Expanding westward would present the two divided areas...
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...Manifest Destiny the belief the expansion of US though American territory was both justified and inevitable. People believe they had to expand their civilization across the United States. So how did the idea of the Manifest Destiny change America in the early to mid-1800s? It helped motive western settlements, Native American removal, and a war with Mexico. The motivation of western settlements was not just for economic motives but religious. Many of the settlers believed God blessed the growth of the American nation. This lead to the painting the symbol of Manifest Destiny, the woman that looks like an angle moving with the settlers replacing darkness with light. Then the economic motives with the fur trade then also when gold was discovered...
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...Manifest Destiny was the belief that the United States was destined or endowed by God with the mission of expanding across the continent, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Many people believed that it was the obvious destiny or America, which was “chosen” by God as a superior nations, to expand, as it is said, “from sea to shining sea.” The phrase was first coined in 1845 by journalist John L. O’Sullivan. He believed that the United States had been given a mission by God to spread democracy, not by force, but simply by spreading across the continent. Obscure at first, the phrase only became popular when Whig Robert Winthrop, who opposed manifest destiny, ridiculed the idea in public. There were many interpretations of manifest destiny, but most reflected the widespread feeling of Nationalism that was sparked by the conclusion of and victory in the War of 1812. The term manifest destiny was widely used and interpreted, but it always seemed to outline three basic themes. Those themes were virtue, mission, and destiny. Manifest destiny focused on virtue of America’s people and government. American Exceptionalism was the belief that America’s history was above the norm and uncommonly “good”. Exceptionalism showed in the beliefs of people who thought that God had selected America as a “City on a Hill”; a role model and an ideal for the rest of the world, especially still-developing areas. Also, many people believed that America’s people, the “Anglo-Saxon race” were, in terms of...
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...Manifest Destiny is a term for the mentality predominant amid the nineteenth century time of American development that the Unified States could, as well as was bound to, extend across the nation. This mentality helped fuel western settlement, Local American expulsion and war with Mexico. The expression was first utilized by John L. O’Sullivan in an article on the extension of Texas distributed in the July-August 1845 release of the Assembled States Magazine and Vote based Audit, which he altered. The term show predetermination began in the 1840s. It communicated the conviction that it was Somewhat English Saxon Americans’ opportune mission to extend their human advancement and establishments over the broadness of North America. This development would include not simply regional...
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