Territorial Expansion
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John O’Sullivan believed America had the right to expand from east to west and north to south, in fact h believed it was her manifest destiny to do so, “the fulfillment of our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions” (Unger 206). O’Sullivan believed that territories annexed by the U.S. were not rightfully the property of Mexico or even the U.S. He believed that they were the sovereign territories of the hard-working Anglo Saxons who settled there. He also believed that America’s future was one with hundreds of millions of people, connected by modern means of transportation and communication. He believed it was only natural for a territory that was self-governing to want to annex itself with the U.S. because of democracy not from coercion, “Their right to independence will be the natural right of self-government belonging to any community strong enough to maintain it-distinct in position, origin and character, and free from any mutual obligations of membership of a common political body, biding it to others by the duty of loyalty and compact of public faith” (Unger 208).The war message of James K. Polk is not as vague a concept as manifest destiny. Polk was determined to fulfill America’s destiny of expansion from east to west and north to south. When he could not achieve it through diplomatic means, he opted for purchasing land or fighti
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es to the treaty signed with Mexico, Calhoun argues the north monopolized expansion territories. The south was weakened by the fact that they exported the most goods and could afford the most imports, on which they had to pay duties imposed by the government in the north. Further, the north viewed slavery as a sin and a crime against humanity, while the south viewed its dissolution as a catalyst of racial calamity. Calhoun argues that only by allowing the south to continue as it had done for years could the north hope to avert civil war. However, his speech is really an attempt to cloak slavery and the profits that come from them in the shroud of bi-partisan politics.
The compromise measures of Daniel Webster counter-attack the charges levied against the north by Calhoun. Webster was staunchly opposed to slavery and any attempts of succession by the southern states. Webster argues that the south has actually maintained control and a lead over the northern states because of its cotton industry success, the same industry he believes is responsible for making the south warm even more to the idea of slavery, “So far as any motive of honor, justice, and general judgment could act, it was the cotton interest that gave a new desir
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1244
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page)
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