Final answer:
The student's question explores the historical context of Manifest Destiny and the implications of race and divine justification during the westward expansion of the United States in the 19th century. Figures like John O'Sullivan and others justified expansion with a divine narrative, while Jefferson and non-white voices offered critical perspectives on the consequences for racial justice.
Step-by-step explanation:
Manifest Destiny and Racial Justice
Throughout the 19th century, the concept of Manifest Destiny became intertwined with race and the divine justification of expansion. This doctrine pushed the idea of not only spreading democratic institutions but also American cultural norms and Protestant values across the continent. The statements from historical figures like John O'Sullivan in 1839 reflected a common belief among settlers that Providence or divine law endorsed their westward expansion, even as this movement led to the displacement and mistreatment of Native Americans and other non-white populations. The belief in a God-given mission to expand was further complicated by practices like slavery and the resistance from the original inhabitants of the land.
As the United States expanded, the application of where freedom could reach became restricted by race and notions of civilization. With the incorporation of new territories into the nation, tensions around slavery and the treatment of different races underpinned the questions around morality and justice in expansionism. While settlers like William Bradford and John Winthrop framed their conquests with a religious narrative, Jefferson highlighted the lasting divisions and potential for conflict that racial differences could entail.
Throughout this period, non-white perspectives also emerged, challenging the dominant narrative. For example, Phillis Wheatley, in her writing, touches on the complexity and ambivalence of being brought from Africa and suggests that religious salvation and divine grace should extend to people of all colors. Similarly, the complexity of race relations and the quest for equality is echoed in later figures and movements who resisted and criticized the unequal treatment faced by African Americans and other non-white groups.