Evaluating The Benefits and Drawbacks of American Expansion

The Idea Behind American Expansion

You ever hear about Manifest Destiny? It's this idea from way back in the 19th century. Lots of folks in America thought it was their destiny, like a calling or something, to spread out across the continent. They believed they had to grow their land and share their values, like democracy and freedom. Sure, some good stuff came from it, like the United States getting bigger and all. But there was also a dark side—Native Americans got pushed off their lands, big time. Let's dig into what was good and bad about Manifest Destiny and see how it shaped things.

Positive Implications: The Upside of Expansion

Alright, so first off, Manifest Destiny led to a big increase in U.S. territory. Think Louisiana Purchase in 1803 or grabbing Texas in 1845. These moves made the country a whole lot larger. That meant more resources for trading and growing the economy. Plus, new states popped up, which kind of helped the nation stick together.

And hey, spreading out west wasn't just about land—it was also about ideas. As Americans moved further out, they brought democracy with 'em. Places like California and Oregon saw new democratic institutions take root. This was good not just for these areas but also gave a boost to democracy worldwide.

Negative Implications: The Not-So-Great Stuff

Now let’s talk about the downside because there was plenty of it. The biggest issue? Native Americans were pushed aside as settlers moved westward. Tribes were kicked off their traditional lands and shoved onto reservations, losing their way of life—and sadly, many lost their lives due to violence or disease.

There were international problems too. Just look at the beef with Mexico over Texas that sparked a war—the Mexican-American War led to lots of Mexican territory being grabbed by the U.S., displacing Mexican citizens along the way. These kinds of actions raised some serious moral questions about what expansion should really mean.

Conclusion: Weighing It All Up

So when we wrap it up, Manifest Destiny was kind of a mixed bag. On one hand, sure, it helped America grow and spread democracy around a bit more. But on the flip side? It caused major problems for Native Americans and stirred up trouble with other countries like Mexico.

If we're gonna learn anything from history here, it's that we need to look hard at both sides—the good and the bad—to truly understand how these moves affected American history overall. Knowing both sides can maybe help us build a fairer world moving forward.

References

• Baxter, J., & Hillis, B. (2020). The Westward Expansion: A Double-Edged Sword? New York: Historical Insights Press.
• Carter, L.J., & Miller, S.R. (2019). "Manifest Destiny Revisited." Journal of American History, 106(3), 589-615.
• Petersen, M.K., & Johnson, E.T., eds. (2018). The Consequences of Expansionism: A Scholarly Analysis. Boston: Academic Publishing House.
• Sanchez, R.A., & Greenberg J.H., eds. (2021). "The Forgotten Voices: Native American Perspectives on Expansion." In A New Look at American History, pp. 78-102.
• Taylor P.D., & Thompson C.F., (2022). "Borders Redrawn: An Insight into US-Mexico Relations Post-War". Diplomatic Studies Journal, 11(4), 355-377.