Premium Essay

Manifest Destiny: Jefferson And Louisiana Purchase

Submitted By
Words 196
Pages 1
Manifest Destiny changed the landscape of our country in many negative ways, according to Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton was the former Secretary of Treasury and a strong Federalist. He wrote this article for the New York Evening News in the month of July 1803, after the Louisiana Purchase had been made. Jefferson and Hamilton already had a natural rift because of their opposing political parties, so it was natural that Hamilton claim that the purchase wasn’t due to Jefferson’s intelligence. He instead claimed that it was a coincidence, that it was luck. His motive with saying this was to sway Republicans to side with him, not Jefferson. And even if Hamilton were to agree that the purchase was a good deal, he had another reason to dislike it.

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Manifest Destiny Definition

...Manifest Destiny Manifest Destiny was the expansion of the colonies and treaties, colonies claimed the land extending to the pacific ignoring European powers and violating treaties (Greenberg, 2012, 4). Manifest Destiny is the idea of continental expansion by the United States,from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans, which occurred out of deep desire and need to conquer new lands and expanded borders. However, expansion was done out of racism, which violates the ideal of equality, and is unconstitutional. Andrew Jackson was in favor of Manifest Destiny because he wanted Mississippi and Alabama freed of indians to enable those states to grow in population. “By opening the whole territory between Tennessee on the north and Louisiana on the south to the settlement of the whites it will incalculably strengthen the southwestern frontier and render the adjacent States strong enough to repel future invasions without remote aid’’ (Jackson, 2012, 61). Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act a law in 1830. He made it sound like it would benefit everyone however he was doing it out of racism. Zenas Leonard believed...

Words: 998 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

From Manifest Destiny: Thomas Jefferson's Journey To The West

...America was new, ambitious and democratic, when President Thomas Jefferson was elected. He had long envisioned America as “Empire of Liberty.” His vision was fueled by the idea of Manifest Destiny as it spread like fire throughout the country. With Manifest Destiny came the unquenchable hunger and need for more land. In addition, Thomas Jefferson believed the “Empire of Liberty” would only be achievable through the control of the Mississippi River. With John O'Sullivan's “Manifest Destiny,” America began its journey towards the west. ("A Bio. of America: Westward Expansion ") Thomas Jefferson took the first step towards the west, when he bought Louisiana from Napoleon for only $15 million. Not only did Louisiana double the size of America, but also provided access to the country’s largest river; The Mississippi River. However, even with the purchase of Louisiana, Americans remained near the coast, with nearly no settlement to west of Appalachian Mountains. Louisiana was an unknown territory with, therefore Jefferson arranged the Lewis and Clark expedition. The goal of the expedition was to discover the land west of Appalachian Mountain, which they did. Louis and Clark were able to collect several specimen of animals and plants and make scientific observations....

Words: 432 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Manifest Destiny Research Paper

...O’Sullivan a New York journalist, coined the term "Manifest Destiny", which defines the recognition that Americans had a destiny given to them by God, to expand into the western territories “ The whole continent was to be theirs”(American Nations 300). John L. O'Sullivan was the first to popularly describe the pattern of western expansion throughout history, going as far back to the first settlers and their expansion to the west. O'Sullivan's term "Manifest Destiny" was used as a justification to acquire new territories. The War of Mexico was fought between the United States and Mexico in 1846 - 1848, over the Mexican territory. President Polk believed in the “Manifest Destiny” and felt he had to spread it across the country . The Mexican territory was a great way to expand “Manifest Destiny", he tried to acquire the lands by secretly negotiating, and renegotiating, but failed. In the end, Polk started a war on false pretenses, to gain the new territories. He declared war on Mexico, claiming the Mexico was invading U.S. territory. Polk used “Manifest Destiny” to justify starting a war with Mexico, when the Mexicans would not sell “The area that Polk wanted, lying in the path of the American expansion..” (The American Nation...

Words: 944 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Manifest Destiny

...Tammy Prater Survey of American History I HIST 2010 Spring 2014 “Manifest Destiny and American Territorial Expansion A Brief History with Documents” By Carrie Duncan Manifest Destiny is an event, and a philosophy, that changed how the United States expanded from thirteen colonies into what it is today. The term, Manifest Destiny, was first used in 1845 by John O'Sullivan, to give explanation for the United States' right of expansion. He stated that"...the right of our manifest destiny to over spread and to possess the whole of the continent which Providence has given us for the development of the great experiment of liberty and federaltive development of self government entrusted to us. It is right such as that of the tree to the space of air and the earth suitable for the full expansion of its principle and destiny of growth." 1 The principle behind Manifest Destiny has been around since Christopher Columbus first discovered the Caribbean. Many years after Columbus' discovery of the New World, Europe and Mexico were wanting to expand, and control new territories in North America. This want for new territory, would cause boundary issues and fears to arise soon after the Revolutionary War with the fledgling government of the United States. These boundary issues and fears would help the supporters, who wanted to expand the United States borders, to push for acquiring new territories in...

Words: 2589 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

People Involved In The Westward Expansion Migration

...the Westward Expansion Migration were John L.O’Sullivan, Lucinda Brown, and Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, both played an important part in the westward expansion migration. Despite their different personalities, they were appointed by Thomas Jefferson to go on an expedition. Simultaneously Lewis and Clark went on a two thousand mile expedition. Lewis and Clark were chosen by Thomas Jefferson because of their knowledge and experience. They went on an expedition to explore and discover the land bought in the Louisiana Purchase. Together they discovered the path of the Oregon Trail. The Oregon Trail was the path in which 7 million people migrated to the west on....

Words: 543 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Manifest Destiny Research Paper

...During the 19th century, American settlers wanted to expand westward for new territories. This expansion was known as manifest destiny. Many Americans wanted to enlarge the size of their country, so they could compete with other larger countries. Others wanted to expand America for economic reasons such as more land for farming, or for industrial purposes. While some viewed the expansion of the U.S. as a good thing, many others opposed the idea for various reasons. In the 1800s, the expansion of the United States gained many supporters and opposers. The expansion of the United States began in the 1800s. In 1803, while Thomas Jefferson was president, France had owned a large area of land between the Rocky Mountains and the Mississippi River...

Words: 784 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Thomas Jefferson Declaration Of Independence

...The year is 1789, George Washington has just been elected the primordial president of The United States of America. From then on, we have been under the ruiling of 43 different presidents; many have been transcendent, while others fell short. Out of the countless formidable presidents, one stands out the most. Thomas Jefferson is undeniably the strongest president that has ever come into office because he contributed to the core philosophical underpinnings upon which our democracy is based, achieved manifest destiny, and impacted every aspect of society. July 4th, 1776, The Declaration of Independence, a famous manifesto that earned the United States freedom, was signed. Thomas Jefferson was nominated to write the draft of this famous...

Words: 616 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Timleine Part 1

...William Truman March 5th 2014 Timeline Part I Major Event/Epoch in American History | Time Period/Date(s) | Description and Significance of the People/Event(s) to American History | 1) Describe three different American Indian cultures prior to colonization. | 1421-15211492-1504 1541- 1937 | Aztec Indians: They were located in central Mexico and they spoke Nahuati language. In 1520-1521 Small pox hit, between 10% and 5o% of population was affected. The government was a system of tribute. They believed in human sacrifice. Eastern woodland cultures were along the Atlantic coast mostly during the summer time. During winter they were forced to diverse because of how many people to be fed and the weather. They were mostly small villages during the summer time. The English settlers were most likely to encounter the Algonquian-Speaking Indians. They were the Plains Indian and they were located where Kanas, Oklahoma, and Texas. They had villages up to 20 houses. For their government they had council circles but it is unclear what they actually did. | 2) The effects of British colonization on the Native Americans. | 1492-1810 | There were many affects from the British colonization on native Americans. They were forced to be slaves if they did not die from diseases, because not having freedom they decided to kill them self or if it was a women were pregnant they had abortions. | 3) The evolution of the socio-political milieu during the colonial period, including...

Words: 1348 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

How Did The Americans Purchase New Orleans

...territory to the Americans. The French wanted the Louisiana territory from Spain, causing the Americans to worry. The French were a powerful force, and Americans need "the Mississippi for commerce"1 and transportation. The American people were not going to let France inhabit that territory at any cost. "The acquisition of New Orleans became of paramount national interest"2, so the Americans needed to find a way to acquire it. They had buy it from the French making sure that they wouldn't settle there. If the French had taken the territory Americans would have had to align to take it back. The French army never made it to New Orleans, as it became less important to them. This allowed Thomas Jefferson to find a way to buy it off the French. "Congress granted the envoys $2 million to secure"3 New Orleans. This was an important step to be able to purchase the whole territory. The Mississippi river was an extremely important transportation route for the Americans, and controlling that area allowed for the expansion of America. The territory would double the size of America....

Words: 627 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Timeline

...Timeline 1 1) Describe three different American Indian cultures prior to colonization. Pre-history to 1600s The Hopewell tribe was mound builders that were located in the Midwest and even today their mounds can be seen in the states where they resided, such as Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin and more. They could be considered some of the first traders in the region as they had a very large trade route, with materials coming from across other portions of the United States and Canada. The climate was the reason for this tribe’s decline rather than the colonists that arrived to the New World. The Iroquois were located in what is now the state of New York. This was actually a group of tribes that were united under a league that had been established by a political alliance after tribal warring. Their system of government with chosen leaders called sachems is considered the model for which the American government is currently built upon. The Haidas was a tribe that was located in the Northwest Pacific Coast across the country far from where the colonists first landed. This tribe being so close to the ocean, centered more of tribal life around the waters. They were fishermen and artists. This is one of the tribes that created totem poles that many individuals associate with Native American culture today. 2) The effects of British colonization on the Native Americans. 1600’s The British colonization on the Native Americans had a...

Words: 2703 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

The Role Of Nationalism In Westward Expansion

...in nationalism, the establishment of a single governmental entity, population growth, immigration, the development of infrastructure of roads, as well as an inherent belief in manifest destiny. Nationalism, by definition, is “a sense of national consciousness and loyalty that promotes the interests and attributes of that nation over all others.”1 Prior to the American Revolution, the colonies were completely separate. While people traveled around the colonies, there was no unity in the legal systems, monetary systems, or trade systems, nor was there any interest in what the other colonists were doing or how they were...

Words: 988 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Personal Narrative: Life During The Westward Expansion

...Life During the Westward Expansion Westward Expansion was a time where people migrated west, because Thomas Jefferson believed that it would significantly enhance their country. In 1803, the Louisiana Purchase took place, which meant that the United States almost doubled its size. Throughout the 1840s, settlers and Mormons began to go west. Over 7 million Americans lived in the Appalachian-west by 1840. The effect this migration had been overall negative. People who had just come to America, had to leave their new homes and start completely over. In 1846, James Frazier Reed and some other men led the pioneers to start a better life. Many different tragedies happened along the way, but that didn't withhold them. They went...

Words: 359 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

19th Century Westward Expansion

...In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson sent James Monroe to purchase the territory of Louisiana from the French government for $15 million, a real steal in the actual value of the land. The Louisiana Purchase stretched from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains (wide) and from New Orleans to Canada (long), and it almost doubled the size of the former United States. To Jefferson, westward expansion was the key to the nation’s future, even if the action of purchasing this land went against his beliefs. However the Louisiana Purchase did not go undisputed. In October of 1803, a congressional debate was held. The Federalist delegates from New England territory greatly opposed the expansion. The party believed in strict interpretation of the constitution so they argued that the acquisition of territory by treaty was unconstitutional. Their concerned also touched on the fear they had for potential repercussions from other nations, such as Britain and Spain. Federalists argued that their defenses would not hold, and that the new frontier required militia presence. Overall they feared that the eastern states would loose influence in Congress and would suffer economically and politically (Doc A). Despite the dispute, Jefferson was reelected in...

Words: 1260 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Trouillot: The Power Of History

...of the Mexican president. The Mexican government eventually law an anti- slavery settlement that will outraged settlers. On the other hand, Mexico history describes the war as being an essential battle in order to domain their land from further settlers. The government in 1830 prohibited further American immigration into Mexican territory. They began forcing settlers to convert into Catholicism and sign an oath of allegiance to Mexico in order to them stay on their land. The Mexican government became economically unstable after their independence making them extremely vulnerable against other countries. Their poor government structure became the tipping point that proved once more the significance of the Manifest Destiny and the idea that God given them the right and destiny to expand their freedom westward. In consequence Mexico lost half of its land, and their population suffer substantially. The war added one million acres into the U.S while costing them million of dollars and thousands of lives in the process (Olson). Even though, it became an unpopular battle in both countries, it became a grounding point on pro and anti slavery that will push the United States into a Civil...

Words: 1229 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Compare And Contrast Jackson And Jefferson's Views On Democracy

...young years of America, two of the early presidents had to different take on democracy in America. Thomas Jefferson, a highly educated lawyer from Virginia that served as the second vice president, and Andrew Jackson, from South Carolina, orphaned as a child and later became a war general, the third and seventh presidents of America. Even though from different backgrounds, the men’s’ ideas on democracy share similar elements. At the same time each of them had his own interpretation of American Democracy. Thomas Jefferson worked to increase the power of the “citizens,” which by Jefferson’s philosophy meant any white male that was a farmer or land owner. In fact Jefferson said that a big advantage of the Louisiana Purchase was that farmers could have more land to farm so that they could...

Words: 597 - Pages: 3