The discovery and exploration of the Americas led to an initially slow but exponentially increasing westward migration by European countries. Among all the countries were England and Spain who colonized the majority of what is now the United States Eastern Coast. Both intrigued by the rumors and stories of gold and riches that beset the new lands they each did their part in western colonization; and not without reciprocal influence. Initial English colonies were established not only with cliché intentions of religious freedom but also with hopes of new economic expansion through agriculture as well as tactical, advantageous military purposes in the ever-present conflict with Spain. Mainly all original westward exploration was due to desires for gold and riches and in the case of the English this was no exception.
Missionaries did their job of preaching that the savages of the world need to be civilized and Christianized. Thus, the United States began to become very nationalistic, and tensions with foreign powers began to rise. Kipling’s “White Man’s Burden” gave a call to the white population of the United States to reach out and ‘civilize’ the rest of the world With the White Man’s Burden and the widespread dogma of social Darwinism, the United States also started taking advantage of the fact that it could make quite a fortune by doing what it felt was ‘right’. Roosevelt’s quote, “Our endeavors overseas are not for the purpose of empire, but rather salvation.” spoke of what the ‘White Man’ was supposed to do. The United States claimed they weren’t taking advantage of the Cubans, Filipinos, and Hawaiians because of imperialistic measures, but because it was what the ‘needed’ to do.
Hakluyt also pointed that the overflow of people, both in need of religious freedom and in want of more business opportunities, within England needed a place to go. America is not only perfect for dumping those excess peoples into, but also exceeds that by also bringing profit from those living in those colonies. One of the major points that Hakluyt drives home is the comeuppance to Spain by creating demand for goods and shipping, and thereby creating profit for England and away from the plundering Spanish. From the profits of the taxes and duties of the new shipping industry, Hakluyt believes a powerful navy can be built for the protection and preservation of the growing British Empire. In 1584, when Hakluyt wrote his Discourse, he says that England at the time was swarming with unemployed youths, men, soldiers, prisoners, and beggars.
Although the principle of Manifest Destiny was to strengthen the nation, it indirectly led to its breaking point by a symbol known as the Civil War. The ideas behind expansionism, land acquired after the Mexican War, and the rising conflicts surrounding slavery all contributed to the division of the nation. In 1845, an editor with a known voice and a democratic leader by the name of John L O' Sullivan gave birth to the term Manifest Destiny. He declared it was America's divine or "Principle-given" right to expand over the entire continent for the purposes of fulfilling America's "mission." This mission included not only gaining land but also pushing forward the freedoms of mankind.
Another motive for oceanic voyages in the 15th century was people and explorers were hungry and curious for new information and longed for ways to build up their knowledge. Along with gaining new knowledge, explorers saw it as a way of becoming famous and wealthy, if they were the ones who discovered knew and helpful knowledge first. The explorers would reap the credit and all the glory. Another aspect of gaining new knowledge and land, was the spread and influence of ones own religion. The explorers could discover new lands and impose their own religion and will upon others in that land or territory, so the spread of religion and getting ones own beliefs out there to new people and lands was huge motive.
SPANISH VS. BRITISH COLONIZATION Dymond Nobles HIST 1301 July 22, 2015 Exploration of the New World was the product of European empires expanding in an attempt to secure new trade routes, to find new sources of goods, and to spread the dominant religions of the respective empires. The major difference between the British and Spanish enterprises is how they were organized. Spanish exploration of the New World was led by Christopher Columbus and Juan Ponce de Leon. The motivations for colonial expansion were trade and the spread of the Christian faith through indigenous conversions. Under the exploration of Christopher Columbus, the Spanish Empire explored great parts of what would become South, Central, and North America while the French and British Empires focused predominantly on North America.
Manifest Destiny reflected both the prides that characterized American Nationalism in the mid-19th century, and the idealistic vision of social perfection through God and the church. Individually, the components created separate reasons to conquer new land. Together they exemplified America’s ideological need to dominate from pole to pole. `While some were driven by what they considered God's will, others saw Manifest Destiny as the American domination of North America from sea to sea. It was the way to extend American liberty to new areas.
Many Americans believe that God give them the power and duty to expand territory, strengthen the United States. The motivation of United States launched this war is a debatable subject. The origin and influence The term Manifest Destiny was popular in the 19th century, some Americans believed they had the destiny to expand American continent Territory, from the Atlantic coast to Pacific Ocean. The ideal of territory expansion is already had before the American Independence, but in 1845, The United States Magazine and Democratic Review editor John O'Sullivan published an essay “Annexation”. “…our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions”[2] This essay reveal John O'Sullivan claim United States had a destiny expansion .
Economic motives included the desire to make money, to expand and control foreign trade, to create new markets for products, to acquire raw materials and cheap labor, to compete for investments and resources, and to export industrial technology and transportation methods. Political motives were based on a nation's desire to gain power, to compete with other European countries, to expand territory, to exercise military force, to gain prestige by winning colonies, and to boost national pride and security. Religious motives included the desire to spread Christianity, to protect European missionaries in other lands, to spread European values and moral beliefs, to educate peoples of other cultures. Exploratory motives were based on the desire to explore "unknown" or uncharted territory, to conduct scientific research, to conduct medical searches for the causes and treatment of diseases, to go on an adventure, and to investigate "unknown" lands and cultures. Originally Ghāzī warriors depended upon stealing to make a living, and were prone to incitement to rebellion in times of peace.
However, England dominated the region economically. In an effort to claim the territory peaceably, the United States encouraged its citizens to settle there, appealing to their sense of nationalism as well as offering incentives in the form of land subsidies. The government told citizens it was their “Manifest Destiny”, their God-given right and obligation, to settle the west and bring the American culture to the area. The Oregon Trail