“Manifest Destiny” the Changing of America

     1815-1840: during this time in the U.S., things were changing, including westward expansion. This setting was mostly Protestant Christian, and in that milieu, philosophical and theological ideas encouraged this westward expansion among the people. This was a positive thing for the country, but perhaps not the best for the people.

     The Great Awakening movement, which spurred the idea of manifest destiny, was an emotional movement more so than an intellectual movement. With manifest destiny,  Americans believed that divine providence (God’s will) was for America to spread from coast to coast. This was somewhat of a self-fulfilling prophecy; America was already moving in the direction of growing and spreading. However, this idea gave people an excuse to move things along faster as seen in the Trail of Tears. People wouldn’t have kicked Indians out with such aggression if they didn’t have God backing them up, even though, with time, the U.S. would’ve grown with or without the movement.