Manifest Destiny and American Territorial Expansion

by Amy S. Greenberg

Manifest Destiny has been one of the most influential ideologies in American history, serving as the justification for the nation’s territorial expansion in the antebellum era. In this compelling collection, Amy Greenberg focuses on the social, cultural and political context that gave rise to Manifest Destiny. She explores how American expansionism evolved from its colonial roots and accompanying notions of exceptionalism to become a fully articulated rationale in the 1840s for expanding the nation’s borders and seizing lands from Native Americans and Mexico and later from Cuba and Central America. Documents — including diary and personal narratives, letters, political speeches, contemporary illustrations, newspaper accounts, essays, appeals, and a song — highlight the origin of the term itself, ideological support and rejection of Manifest Destiny, and the voices of those most painfully affected by American expansion. Headnotes, a chronology and bibliography further support students in their study of this development in American foreign policy.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

195 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 23, 2011

About the author

Amy Greenberg is Liberal Arts Research Professor of History and Women's Studies at Penn State. She is a leading scholar of Manifest Destiny and has held fellowships from the Huntington Library, the New York Historical Society, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the American Philosophical Society. Her previous books include Manifest Manhood, Antebellum American Empire, and Cause for Alarm.

Reviews

[Emery · Rating 4 out of 5]

A varied but relevant collection of documents and narratives concerning Manifest Destiny in the United States. Several social and racial classes represent both proponents and opponents. An excellent intro and overview of American Expansion more broadly and the philosophy that defined it more specifically.

[Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very accessible overview of Manifest Destiny, what it means/meant, how it different from earlier expansion, and why so many Americans believed in it. The collection of documents presents a fantastic variety from traditional political sources to cultural items. Great for anyone needing a quick summary of the topic or for using in the classroom.

[Chianna Li · Rating 2 out of 5]

No documents from women’s POV or Mexicans/British during the annexation of Oregon and Texas.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much like the book on the Missouri Compromise, a learning experience. I did know more about this subject but regardless I learned a lot, especially about our lust for expansion.