Question

To what extent did manifest destiny and territorial expansion unite or divide the united states from 1830 to 1860 dbq

Answer 1

     The "Manifest Destiny" is a representation of an idea that justifies United States massive expansion throughout the 19th Century. It states that it was part of the plans of God that the  United States, as a superior, dominated all of America, and the Americans of the United States were blessed. There was a national feeling of accomplishment and a political tendency of Economic Nationalism.

     The expansion started with the Westward settlement of Americans and by the support of the 1787 Northwest Ordinance, there was the possibility of annexation of new states. Since then, the United States had a significant growth of its original territory, mainly through the following ways:

   

•     Wars for territories (e.g Mexican-American War)

•     Broken treaties with Indians (that limited the territory of Indian occupation)

•     Purchase of territories (e.g Louisiana Purchase)

       

     The annexation of the new states implied that they were settled in a condition of "Free" or "Slave" state, according to the region they and the politics of the place. This, along with the different political views and need of homogeneity of federal decisions (a feeling that the North was benefited by federal laws and decisions.) created a sectarian feeling on the country that led later to the separation of the United States of America (Northern, predominately free states)  to the Confederate States of America (predominately slave states), and ultimately led to the Civil war in the 1860's

     We can say Manifest Destiny united the people of United States in a general feeling of prosperity, in a kind of religious way, but divided the states itself , because of the need of the new states "identity" to be determined.