John Gast painting

EQ – TWE does the U.S. have a mission to spread freedom and democracy?

Election of 1844 reading Qs: Who were the candidates? Parties? What were the major issues? How were these issues handled after the election?

John O’Sullivan, 1845, in reference to the continuing boundary dispute over Oregon: “And that claim is by the right of our manifest destiny to overspread and to possess the whole of the continent which Providence has given us for the development of the great experiment of liberty and federated self-government entrusted to us.” What is the mission of the U.S. according to O’Sullivan? Reasons to expand? Arguments against expansion?

Manifest Destiny = the belief in the political, religious and cultural superiority of American civilization, giving Americans an inherent right to the continent and “true title” to the lands

Discussion Qs: Has anyone lived in/visited another country? How do the people of that country view Americans? Why? Does the U.S. continue the idea of Manifest Destiny? (spreading freedom and democracy?) Should the U.S. do this? Why/why not?