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I think Manifest Destiny was a great opportunity for the United States to expand and find economic prosperity. A lot of great things came from this time, but I also think a lot of negative things came from it as well. I don't think it was morally right to take land away from the Natives, or to kill them over land, or to even cause conflict over it. My opinion is split down the middle, because I can see both ends of the spectrum. There's pros and cons, so I personally can't have a black or white opinion on this particular subject, just because I don't feel right picking either side. I'm really opinionated and I think black or white on a lot of things, but I think more gray in this situation.

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Some Americans used God and religion as an excuse for forcibly taking land away from Native Americans.

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Often associated with the expansionism of the US from coast to coast, the concept of manifest destiny dates back as far as the Ancient Egyptians or, further. Its idea is that a certain population has a God-given right to certain things, such as land, and the reason of this right's existence is the fact where one culture is superior in some way to another. For the colonists of the US, they viewed themselves as superior to the native populations. While there are some advantages that come with manifest destiny, there are also some disadvantages. Let us take a look at these opposing ideas.

List of Pros of Manifest Destiny

1. It allows a country to expand its territory.
For the US, the land associated with it expanded its size by over 60% because of manifest destiny. This allowed more immigrants to the country and allowed people to find a new life for themselves. This would have not been possible without the extra land space.

2. It gives population groups the opportunity to experience freedom.
The goal of manifest destiny was to give the American sense of freedom to everybody. For example, during the Colonial Age, minority groups could establish colonies outside of their home communities in order to escape the confines of political issues, persecution and poverty or to worship their gods more freely.

3. It gives people the chance to explore.
Manifest destiny ultimately allows people to explore their surrounding environments comfortably. Instead of just resting on their own places and being satisfied with a mediocre life, people will be inspired to actually pursue their dreams away and start a nice life for themselves.

List of Cons of Manifest Destiny

1. It creates discord within a certain population.
It does not feel nice to see things taken from us. The fact where people use God in manifest destiny as an excuse to take things makes the concept even less palatable. This act ultimately creates negative impressions within the affected population, which can even lead to war, terrorism and casualties.

2. It favors solely on the more powerful taker.
The idea that God supports the seizing of land is not something that would not be supported if roles were reversed. Imagine a smaller nation starting a war with a bigger and more powerful one? It would be very difficult or even impossible, right? Because it cannot be implemented in reverse, the concept is often seen by critics as negative.

3. It manipulates religion for personal gain.
Using God to justify piety, arrogance and an overall lack of love means that religion is just being manipulated to serve personal interests. Though at the very core of the individuals who are taking action using manifest destiny is a feeling that they are morally wrong, they would just convince themselves that God would justify their actions to settle the moral argument.

Actually, manifest destiny helped to create the world as we see it today. For the US, it allowed the creation of a coast-to-coast country that has managed to become one of the world's wealthiest. Was it all worth it? By weighing its pros and cons, you can decide about it properly on your own.

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6 Predominant Pros and Cons of Manifest Destiny

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Often associated with the expansionism of the US from coast to coast, the concept of manifest destiny dates back as far as the Ancient Egyptians or, further. Its idea is that a certain population has a God-given right to certain things, such as land, and the reason of this right's existence is the fact where one culture is superior in some way to another.

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Since the population of the western territories were growing and wanting to become a state, there could arise conflict over the free state/slave state equilibrium.

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The primary effect of manifest destiny is that the United States is a bi-coastal nation stretching more than 3,000 miles from Maine to California. Manifest destiny also displaced a lot of non-native people and created an expanse of roads and railroads that aided in the development of industry.

Scholars also argue that manifest destiny ultimately resulted in the American Civil War. Southern plantations owners were among the earliest proponents of manifest destiny and saw it not only as a way of finding more land to cultivate but a method of expanding slavery. The argument over which new states would be slave states and which would not was ultimately one of the primary causes of the southern secession. The battle of the North and South over control of the expanding railroad system, which aided in the rapid growth of industry in the United States, also ultimately contributed to the Civil War. There were also religious effects of manifest destiny. The general belief of those who supported the idea of manifest destiny believed that national expansion was actually willed by God. The fact that Americans were repeatedly able to defeat Native Americans, as well as Spanish and Mexican armies, in the quest westward helped seal into the minds of Americans that the United States was a nation favored and blessed by God.

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What Were the Effects of Manifest Destiny?

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The primary effect of manifest destiny is that the United States is a bi-coastal nation stretching more than 3,000 miles from Maine to California. Manifest destiny also displaced a lot of non-native people and created an expanse of roads and railroads that aided in the development of industry.

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Native Americans had to give up their homelands to new settlers and were pushed out of their native area.

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The term manifest destiny was first used by John L. O'Sullivan in 1840 to describe what most Americans at the time believed was their mission from God-to expand the United States from coast to coast. Along with expanding their territory, they should spread their institutions and traditions in order to liberate and enlighten other civilizations, such as the Indians and Hispanics who were considered inferior therefore deserving cultivation. By the end of the 19th century, expansionists believed that the Anglo-Saxon heritage made America supremely fit, so it was the nation's duty to spread its influence even beyond its continental boundaries to the Far East, Asia, and the Caribbean and Pacific regions.

While Manifest Destiny is a philosophy embraced by many, there are still proponents with opposing views. And as is with every ideology, there are pros and cons.

List of Pros of Manifest Destiny

1. A nation can expand its territory.
Manifest Destiny allowed the United States to expand its territory by more than 60%. With more land, the U.S. was able to improve, progress, and welcome more immigrants who were seeking better opportunities.

2. It paves the way for exploration.
More people are given a chance to discover new places and develop their spiritual, social, and personal growth. By settling in new territory, you must learn new ways of living and be innovative.

3. It brings more land for agricultural development.
With a bigger territory you have more land that you can use for growing food to feed your growing population. Also, farmers and merchants can produce and sell more crops.

4. It increases goods, services, and wealth.
Territorial expansion allows a nation to open more ports for trade and increase their production of goods and services. It provides opportunities to discover and gain valuable resources found in the newly acquired land. The gold rush of 1849 in America happened during the Manifest Destiny era.

5. It allows the spread of freedom.
Through Manifest Destiny, the United States also saw the chance to spread the American sense of freedom. They could teach other populations about their democratic, religious, and cultural ways.

List of Cons of Manifest Destiny

1. It takes away someone's property to give it to someone else.
People who have been living and building their homes and communities in a specific area of land can just be forcibly pushed out so the new settlers can live there.

2. It seeds dissent.
When you take away something from someone without his consent, you will stir negativity. He will naturally feel angry and will find a way to reclaim what is his.

3. It causes violence and war.
Critics of Manifest Destiny argued that the ideology resulted to the civil war and war between countries. Native Indians who were defiant in not giving up their land and culture resolved to bloodshed and conflict.

4. It leads to the oppression of people.
Settlers can enslave and kill people whose land need to be taken in the name of Manifest Destiny. This is why most of the native Indian population was annihilated.

5. It encourages the use of the name of God and religion for personal gain.
Those opposed to Manifest Destiny believed that the philosophy manipulated the words that are attributed to God and used it to justify the act of killing someone in order to take their land.

Manifest Destiny was integral in shaping the current status enjoyed by the United States today, and that is as one of the wealthiest nations in the world. But are the means in acquiring such a status just and moral? Was it all worth it? These questions can be answered by each person on his own by weighing the pros and cons.

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The term manifest destiny was first used by John L. O'Sullivan in 1840 to describe what most Americans at the time believed was their mission from God-to expand the United States from coast to coast.

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Americans settling in the Oregon territory were self sufficient and were allowed to enjoy their freedom out west.

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Manifest Destiny is the term associated with the territorial expansion of the United States which was first used by John L. O'Sullivan and mentioned in an article published in the July-August 1845 edition of the United States Magazine and Democratic Review about the annexation of Texas. It was the American people's belief in the need to expand the boundaries of freedom. It was also motivated by their desire to impart idealism and push for self-government.

In 1818 and 1839, the United States suffered two major depressions. These also drive the Americans to desire to live in frontier areas and seek for fortune and brighter future. Indeed, it opened doors for aspiring settlers. Despite the benefits that come with Manifest Destiny, however, there were also setbacks associated with the colonial expansion of the U.S.

List of the Pros of Manifest Destiny

1. Territorial Expansion of the United States
Since frontier land was inexpensive that time and there were also land that was free, Manifest Destiny made it possible for the U.S. to acquire more land and in fact, its territory expanded to 60%. This played a major role in the power that the United States is enjoying today.

2. Answer to a Growing Population
During that time, the population of the U.S. was experiencing a rapid increase due to the increasing number of immigrants. With the purchase and acquisition of territories, it answered the problem of accommodating the continuous growth of the number of people.

3. Colonization
Another advantage of Manifest Destiny was the opportunity given to the American leaders and people to impart their ideals to other people and influence the lives of those who lived in the areas they colonized.

4. Wealth and Income
Land ownership was associated with wealth and self-sufficiency. With the land amassed by the Americans, they were able to open doors to developments and commerce. With the expansion of territories from coast to coast, trade and industry increased among countries and the economy became more stable.

5. Freedom
With Manifest Destiny, the United States was able to achieve its dream to extend their boundaries and let the people feel a sense of freedom. As expeditions grew, colonies were formed and these colonies were able to be self-sufficient and enjoy their freedom in other territories. This was also the time where there was a balance between slavery and freedom since there were those who were against slavery and pushed for against it during this period.

6. Fostered Friendships and Union Between Countries
During the acquisition of territories, the United States was also able to form allies like in the case of Britain when these two powers agreed on joint occupation of Oregon at a time when Russia and Spain were still holding to claims to the land. With the agreement of the U.S. and Britain, citizens of both countries were given equal access. This was good for the economy of both since Americans and Britons were handed opportunities to work and live in the territory.

7. Discoveries
As colonies increased and explorers made their expeditions, many plants, spices, herbs and animal species were also discovered and given names. These discoveries are still as useful today as they were useful centuries ago. This would not have been possible if the U.S. did not expand its territories.

List of the Cons of Manifest Destiny

1. Conflicts and War
With the rapid acquisition of land such as the Oregon Territory and the Old Mexican Southwest, conflict between the Americans and Mexicans was not prevented. The Mexican-American war was fought in foreign soil and the Americans won but this also led to the loss of lives and property. Despite the rationalization on Manifest Destiny, the fact still remains that there were wars surrounded with bloodshed and the death of American soldiers, Mexican soldiers and Indian natives, among others. And for critics, there are no winners in wars.

2. Displacement of Rightful Land Owners
The expansion of American territories brought about pain and hardship to the native Indians, Mexicans and other people who were displaced and even killed that time. Aside from the conflicts that resulted from the expansion, many native Indian tribes were fooled into selling their land lower than the actual value.

3. Slavery
In the mid-1830s, around 30,000 Americans went into farming and cotton-growing but had black slaves working for them. It was also during this period that slavery proliferated. For opponents, Manifest Destiny came to be not only to purchase more territories but to expand slavery. This made possible the creation of more slaveholding territories in the Caribbean and Central America.

4. Acquisitions Were Done with Violence
Despite what proponents say that the purchases of land were done peacefully and with full consent of the land owners, opponents say otherwise. According to them, it was the desire of the colonizers to acquire more land, they did not care if these were achieved with violence or not. In fact, it resulted to wars among countries and the suppression of the native tribes of the West.

5. Native American Oppression
Manifest Destiny entailed ethnic cleansing, that is, the Americans felt they need to regulate where the Native Indians should live. This resulted to the oppression of the native tribes. Native tribes were forced to give up their lands or get paid less than the real value of their lands.

6. God and Religion Used
People behind Manifest Destiny claimed that it was God's will for the United States to expand their territories and it was the destiny of the country to acquire these pieces of land, thus the term "Manifest Destiny". It used religion and God for people to rule over others and crave for power.

7. Manipulation
Manifest Destiny resulted to slavery, death, destruction and oppression. However, despite the truth, it was rationalized and presented to be something that is good. The deaths of people who were caught in between conflicts will never be justified but Manifest Destiny claims otherwise.

The expansion of American territories brought power to the country and to the people who benefited from it. However, Manifest Destiny will remain to be a divisive topic. These pros and cons clearly show its influence on the lives not only of the Americans but also of people in the world.

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Pros and Cons of Manifest Destiny - Vision Launch

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Manifest Destiny is the term associated with the territorial expansion of the United States which was first used by John L. O'Sullivan and mentioned in an article published in the July-August 1845 edition of the United States Magazine and Democratic Review about the annexation of Texas.

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Because of expansion, the increase in land made more farming and agriculture possible, which helped the economy.

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All throughout the history of America, there has always been a philosophy, a phenomenon that has been considered to be instrumental to man's travels through time. This is Manifest Destiny, a movement that was an intangible part of American history, but nonetheless, an integral part.

What is Manifest Destiny?

This term was coined by the prominent newspaper editor John O'Sullivan in 1845. Manifest Destiny is what the mindset of the American people where in the 19th century, wherein they believed in the expansion of American territory from coast to coast and that time, to the West. Although even as the early 1800s, Andrew Jackson led an army of men during the Florida crisis and conquered forts and cities. He also punished Seminal Indians who supported Spanish troops. The expansion was not only focused on territory but also to achieve freedom and economic stability for the people.

The term was also considered to be related to America's territorial expansion which covered 1812 to 1860. It started at the end of the War in 1812 and the start of the American Civil War. Notable figures were behind the attempts of expansion, including John Quincy Adams, who was behind the Louisiana Purchase and the Polk administration in 1803 and 1840, respectively.

In 1836, Texas declared its independence from Mexico and became a state of the United States after the Texas Revolution. This, however, did not take place without controversy because Texas added to the slave states of the Union. Manifest Destiny was what made America look beyond its borders and go as far as Asia and the Far East.

Components of Manifest Destiny

The movement or philosophy that was Manifest Destiny showed American Nationalism and the influence or at least belief of the people in Divine Providence. There were those who believed that it was God's will that the country should expand to different areas and that America was destined to do so. For others, it was more of a call or obligation to extend the liberty of America by domination over places from coast to coast.

Although Manifest Destiny was embraced by many, it was still a disputed philosophy with opposing views stemming out from Americans even in the 1800s. There are proponents and opponents stating their points of view.

List of Pros of Manifest Destiny

1. There was territorial expansion.
Generally, expansions mean improvement and progress. Proponents of the movement said that with Manifest Destiny, America became what it is today, one of the most powerful countries in the world. When our forefathers followed what was destined for America, the U.S. was able to acquire more properties as well as gold. This also made it possible for more immigrants to have chance to start new lives. Without this phenomenon, none of this will happen.

2. It brought more land for farming and improvement.
Those who were in favor of the movement said that with more land area acquired, there were more agriculture land made available which was good for the economy and for supply of food and vegetables for the people. The Manifest Destiny made it possible for the merchants and farmers to produce more crops to consume and sell.

3. It was good for trade and industry.
Proponents said that this opened new doors for trading to other countries. By acquiring lands from other places and even other countries, like Alaska which was bought from Russia, there will be more routes for trade and barter. Also, those who want to live somewhere else for economic purposes and greener pasture were given the opportunity to do so.

4. As it doubled the land area of the U.S., it also increased goods, services and wealth.
Some advocates said that not only did the movement increase the size of the country, expanding to other countries and not just states, but it also added to farm lands needed to produce products and poultry. Moreover, with the territorial expansion not only in Asia but also in Europe, more ports for trade were opened and all these added to the reserves of the country, thus, it brought about more wealth. The gold rush of 1849 is one of the significant events in American history and this happened within the period where Manifest Destiny evolved.

5. It paved the way for Americans to share their culture.
When new territories were acquired, people who lived there were influenced with the way of life of Americans. With Manifest Destiny, American culture also expanded. Americans are known to be lovers of individuality and freedom. These are just few of the good traits to learn from the American culture and given this chance, many people will benefit from this. Believers asserted that this will be beneficial to the Indians and the people who were in the territories because they will learn about the democratic, religious and cultural ways of the Americans.

6. It offered the chance for exploration.
One of the benefits advocates for Manifest Destiny claimed was that Americans were given the chance to discover other places other than the community they grew up in. This was not only great for economic improvement but also for personal gain, spiritually, emotionally and socially. By given the chance to be settlers, Americans were able to maximize their potential, discover new ways of living and learn to be innovative. As a whole, this was able to bring more benefits than drawbacks to the American people.

List of Cons of Manifest Destiny

1. It brought about war and conflict.
Opponents of Manifest Destiny argued that this philosophy resulted to war between countries and even the civil war. As early as 1822, the U.S. was already in conflict with Great Britain over the division of Oregon. It also gave a reason for the U.S. to start a war with Mexico and Spain. These are not the only conflicts that took place. Critics also said that it had other names and one was imperialism which led to the taking over of the United States on other countries like Guam, Philippines and Puerto Rico.

2. It was a time of slavery.
One of the drawbacks of U.S. territorial expansion was the proliferation of slavery. Although the Americans made a promise that they will not be taking the land of other people, like the Native Americans, without their consent and other than through peaceful means, history showed that this did not really happen. Slavery of the Native Americans was at its peak during this time and many were killed and displaced during the so-called expansion. And although there were those who submitted themselves freely and perhaps from fear, there were also those who overtly showed defiance, which led to more bloodshed and conflict.

3. It led to the death and suffering of many people, particularly, the Indians.
Opponents claim that Manifest Destiny brought about suffering to the people whose land were taken from them without their consent. Along the way, many people were killed and there was mass destruction of tribes. Indians were brought to reservations as well. With the belief that expansion was a destiny, Americans were convinced they can just conquer and own any land they want to the point of annihilating the tribe of the Native Americans.

4. It used the name of God or the Divine Providence to manipulate other people.
Critics did not agree with the claim of some that Manifest Destiny came from the Divine Providence and that it is actually God who made this happen. For opponents, this is mere manipulation to gain personally. They brought up that in order to achieve the goal of this movement or belief, land was taken from people forcibly while inhabitants were made to suffer and abused.

5. It is unconstitutional.
Those who are not in favor of what the Manifest Destiny stood for said that what the Southerners did, which was spread slavery, was against the constitution and so is taking other territories that do not really belong to them. They also argued that those who pushed for territorial expansion already knew beforehand that the Native Americans will be uprooted to give way for white settlers and international railroad links and yet they still proceeded. For critics, this is clearly a violation of the rights of the people. Abolitionists said that the constitution did not give the country the right for acquisition of new land areas. They also added that by letting the people live in other places, population will be affected and this can be detrimental for the country in a way that there will be less people to protect the American institutions.

6. God will not allow for a territorial expansion that would lead to killings.
Opponents also argued that God has no hand in Manifest Destiny because He will not order for America or any nation, for that matter, to expand its territories by putting the lives and safety of other people in line. They said that although some areas were acquired, others were results of war and oftentimes, acts that were barbaric and unconstitutional.

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12 Impressive Pros and Cons of Manifest Destiny

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All throughout the history of America, there has always been a philosophy, a phenomenon that has been considered to be instrumental to man's travels through time. This is Manifest Destiny, a movement that was an intangible part of American history, but nonetheless, an integral part.

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Manifest Destiny allowed the United States to expand its territories, grow in size, and increase its population.

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Manifest destiny is often associated with US expansionism so that the country could stretch from coast to coast, but it is a concept that dates back as far as the Ancient Egyptians - and perhaps even further than we realize. It's the idea that a certain population has a God-given right to certain things: land, for example. The reason why this right exists is because one culture is superior in some way to another culture. For the US colonists, they viewed themselves as superior to the native populations on the continent already.

There are some advantages that come from a perspective of Manifest Destiny, but there are some serious disadvantages as well. Here is a look at the pros and cons of this subject.

The Pros of Manifest Destiny

1. It allows a nation to be able to expand their territory.
For the United States, land associated with the nation expanded the country's size by over 60% because of Manifest Destiny. This allowed more people to immigrate to the US and find a new life for themselves so that they could remove themselves from poverty. Without the extra land space, this would not have been possible.

2. It creates more land that can be dedicated to crop development.
A bigger population size requires more food. You've got to have land available in order to grow food. Manifest Destiny allowed homesteaders to go forth and claim land so that they could improve it and grow crops that could be used to feed themselves and the local population. The expansion of food allowed for the expansion of adventure.

3. It gives people the chance to explore.
Manifest Destiny ultimately gets people into a comfortable pair of boots or shoes and out into the environment around them. Instead of resting on their laurels and being satisfied with a life that may be mediocre at best, there is inspiration available for someone to actually pursue their dreams and carve out a nice life for themselves.

4. It gives all population groups the chance to experience freedom.
From the US perspective, the goal of Manifest Destiny was to provide everyone with the American sense of freedom. During the Colonial Age, dissenting minorities could establish colonies outside of their home nation so that they could worship their gods more freely or escape the confines of persecution, poverty, or other political issues.

5. There is wealth to be gained in the concept of Manifest Destiny.
There are many forms of value that can be located during the exploration process that comes from this philosophy. The gold rush of 1849 is a classic example of this. It's one of the reasons why the Colonial Age was founded in the first place. Even the Ancient Egyptians looked to expand in their region to gain extra riches or supplies, depending on the quality of the Nile flooding season.

The Cons of Manifest Destiny

1. Property is taken from one group of people so that it can be given to another group of people.
Imagine owning a home for 40 years. You've paid off the mortgage, raised your kids, and are ready to settle down for a comfortable retirement. One day there's a knock on your door and a group of people comes into your home, kicks you out, and then changes the locks. They arm themselves in case you try to claim your home back. That's the definition of Manifest Destiny in modern terms.

2. It creates dissension within a population base.
No one likes to have things taken from them. The fact that people use God as an excuse to take things makes the process even less palatable. The act of Manifest Destiny ultimately creates negativity within the affected population base and this can lead to terrorism, a full-blown war, and casualties on both sides of the issue.

3. It manipulates the idea of religion for personal gain.
Using God, as many Americans did and still do to some extent, to justify arrogance, piety, and an overall lack of love means that religion is just being manipulated to serve a personal person. This is done because at the very core of the person who is taking action using Manifest Destiny is a perception that what they are doing is morally wrong. By convincing themselves that God would justify their actions, they can settle they moral argument they are having for themselves.

4. It's a "Do as I say, not as I do" type of philosophy.
The idea that God would support the taking of land or starting a war to take land is not something that would be supported if the roles were reversed. Imagine another nation starting a war with the United States because they felt it was their Manifest Destiny to occupy Florida? Or what if the entire population of Baltimore were forced to relocate to a different city so that natural resources could be "liberated?" Because it cannot be implemented in reverse, the concept of Manifest Destiny is often seen as a negative by its critics.

5. Does religion require death and subjugation?
Using the US expansionism to the West as an example, would the Bible declare it righteous to kill someone so that their land could be taken? The only way to justify such as action would be to manipulate the words that are attributed to God and then convince the general population that the manipulated words are the actual truth. The fact that manipulation must occur shows that the concepts of Manifest Destiny are of man and not of God.

Manifest Destiny helped to create the world as we see it today. For the United States, it allowed a coast-to-coast country that has become one of the wealthiest in the world. Has it all been worth it? By weighing the pros and cons of Manifest Destiny against each other, each person has the opportunity to decide that on their own.

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Manifest destiny is often associated with US expansionism so that the country could stretch from coast to coast, but it is a concept that dates back as far as the Ancient Egyptians - and perhaps even further than we realize. It's the idea that a certain population has a God-given right to certain things: land, for example.

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Manifest Destiny was the belief that it was it was God's will for the American people to settle most or all of North America.