What were the driving forces behind the United States quest for Manifest Destiny during the 19th century?
The term “Manifest Destiny” was, in part, an expression of a genuine ideal on the part of Americans. But it was also a justification, in that they wanted territory and needed an excuse or justification for a push into territory that they did not control. The idea of Manifest Destiny was foreshadowed by some of the writings during the revolutionary times, with the desire for Canada in the period between the American War for Independence and the War of 1812. It rationalized the Louisiana Purchase and United States’ support for Texas independence and annexation. More broadly stated, Manifest Destiny was a conviction that God intended North America to be under the control of Americans. It’s a kind of early projection of Anglo-saxon supremacy and there’s a racist element to it. But there was also an idealistic element. It was very hard to measure the two, since it would differ from person to person. If you asked a person to define Manifest Destiny, he might tell you it is an ideal, or he mi
