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Name: Chloe Perfect Date: 3/11/23 Class: 7th Period What is Manifest Destiny and how is it important to our lives in America? Manifest Destiny is the belief that the United States was Destined by God to extend its boundaries to the Pacific Ocean. Why is this important, though? Back in the early 1800s to the mid 1850s, many Americans believed that Manifest Destiny was very important in making America. Because of this, Manifest Destiny caused many major events in that time period that helped build America into the country it is today. For instance, Manifest Destiny caused the Mormon Trail and the Mexican War, which pushed Westward expansion of the United States and led to freedom. Manifest Destiny of the Mormon Trail. For instance, “Joseph Smith’s …show more content…
Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon church, claimed that he had been told by God to make a kingdom when Jesus returned to earth. Along with this, many of the Mormons were persecuted, mistreated and even killed because of their practices and beliefs, so when they read the golden plates and heard that God wanted America to extend its boundaries to the Pacific Ocean, it made sense to move their church to a place in West America. In the West they would gain freedom by being able to build a kingdom for God, and by being able to practice their religion freely without any persecution, mistreatment and death. Manifest Destiny caused the Mexican War. For instance, “Some began to believe that acquiring New Mexico was a part of American manifest destiny. President James K. Polk was determined to get the California and New Mexico territories from Mexico. After Mexico refused to sell the land, Polk planned to gain them through war.” The Mexican war relates to Manifest Destiny because the war was fought for God's given Destiny. Before the war, many Americans were settling in New Mexico for

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