Question

Read the "Thinking about Traditions: Vanishing Ways of Life" section in your textbook. Answer the questions at the end of the section.

_______ is the belief that the United States is meant to control land from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

1- Explain the conflicts that manifest destiny/westward expansion brought for American settlers and the indigenous people, American Indians.

2- What events led to the Mexican-American War?

3- What actions did Americans take to achieve manifest destiny?

Answer 1

Manifest Destiny was the belief that the United States was destined to control land from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It led to conflicts between American settlers and indigenous people, like forced relocation through the Indian Removal Act and the Mexican-American War. To achieve manifest destiny, Americans took actions like military conquest, colonization, and displacement of indigenous peoples.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Concept of Manifest Destiny

Manifest Destiny was the belief that the United States was meant to control land from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. It emerged in the 1840s as a religious and cultural justification for American expansion across the continent. Americans viewed their expansion as inevitable, just, and divinely ordained, and they saw it as their duty to spread democratic institutions and Americanize the inhabitants of North America, including indigenous people and Mexicans.

Conflicts and Actions of Manifest Destiny

The westward expansion and manifest destiny brought several conflicts for American settlers and indigenous people. American Indians were displaced from their lands and faced violence and forced removal through policies like the Indian Removal Act of 1830. The Mexican-American War, which was sparked by territorial disputes, further expanded American control over the Southwest, including California.

American actions to achieve manifest destiny involved military conquest, colonization, and displacement of indigenous peoples. The Homestead Act of 1862 also played a role, providing free land to settlers who were willing to develop and occupy it. These actions led to the eventual Americanization of the continent and the formation of the United States as we know it today.

Conclusion

Manifest Destiny had a profound impact on the history of the United States. While it justified American expansion and brought significant territorial gains, it also resulted in the displacement and mistreatment of indigenous peoples. Understanding the conflicts and actions associated with manifest destiny helps us comprehend the complexities of American history and its impacts on different groups of people.