American Expansionism
American expansionism refers to the period of territorial growth experienced by the United States from the late 18th century into the early 20th century. Following the American Revolution, the nation gradually expanded its boundaries, most notably during the 1840s when it acquired significant territories such as Texas, Oregon, California, and New Mexico. This era was driven by the belief in "Manifest Destiny," a concept suggesting that Americans were destined to occupy the continent, although material interests and imperial ambitions also played vital roles in motivating expansion. The United States sought to secure fertile lands for agriculture and valuable trading opportunities along the Pacific coast.
The pursuit of these territories often led to conflicts, notably with Mexico, culminating in the Mexican-American War, which resulted in the U.S. gaining vast regions that would become part of several future states. Expansionism was not restricted to North America; American interests extended into the Pacific, where the nation sought to enhance trade and influence, leading to treaties with various Pacific nations and the annexation of Hawaii and the Philippines. By the end of the 19th century, the United States had solidified its status as a considerable world power, influencing both the North American continent and the broader Pacific region.
American expansionism
The United States embarked on a dramatic expansion of territory after the end of the American Revolution and into the early nineteenth century. Though the nation's boundaries consistently changed over a period of roughly seventy years, the country experienced its largest accumulation of land during the 1840s, acquiring Texas, Oregon, California, and New Mexico in only a few years. During this decade, Americans came to believe in "Manifest Destiny," which held that American settlers were predestined to conquer the continent. Manifest Destiny was not the only reason for American Expansionism, however. American leaders also sought material gains from the land they set out to occupy. Expansion efforts were also undertaken in the spirit of imperialism as the United States became more anxious to claim its status as a world power alongside Great Britain, France, and Spain. In several decades, the United States procured more than two million square miles of territory in North America. Expansionism was not limited to the North American continent, however; many seafarers extended their reach across the Pacific Ocean in pursuit of Chinese trading profits.
Early Expansionism
The American Revolution concluded with the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which formally set the territorial boundaries for the newly independent United States of America. Initially, the new nation only contained the eastern Atlantic Coast, the territory east of the Mississippi River, the Great Lakes region in the North, and the area just before the Gulf of Mexico in the South. Great Britain, Spain, France, Mexico, and Russia inhabited the remaining territories on the continent. These boundaries slowly deteriorated as the United States drastically increased its expansion efforts over the next seventy years.
By the 1820s, the United States had vastly expanded its borders. Through the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 and several treaties with Britain and Spain, the United States acquired large expanses of territory in the West and South. The nation now owned a large portion of the Rocky Mountains in the West and established a new border in the North. Parts of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico also became US territory at this time. These boundaries endured until the 1840s, when American settlers began encouraging expansion more than ever before. The 1840s was the most active era of American Expansionism in US history.
Many factors contributed to the expansionist attitude of the American public in the 1840s. The most cited reason for US expansionism was the concept known as "Manifest Destiny." This religious notion held that God wanted the United States to occupy as much of the North American continent as possible. The ideology motivated American settlers to modernize the West with their pro-agriculture values. Manifest Destiny was not the primary motivator for expansionism, though it certainly did not harm the effort. The fertile lands of the West beckoned American farmers in search of lucrative opportunities. The Pacific Coast ports also held many opportunities for trade. Americans were also eager to get their hands on as much of the continent as possible before foreign nations stepped in.
A War for the West
The territories of Texas and Oregon became the nation's prime targets near the middle of the decade. Politicians built their platforms around policies aimed at acquiring these regions. Britain was in possession of the Oregon territory at this time but wanted to avoid war with the United States, which had become a powerful commercial ally. The United States and Britain reached a settlement in 1846, officially making western Oregon a part of the United States up to the forty-ninth parallel, a line dividing the United States from British North America.
The pursuit of Texas proved a more complicated matter for the United States. The territory was part of the Mexican continent and negotiation efforts were stalled by frequent changes in Mexican leadership. The Mexican and US governments also could not agree where the Texas border began and ended. President James K. Polk attempted to annex a large portion of Texas territory in 1845, a move that angered an already tense Mexico. The dispute eventually instigated the two-year Mexican-American War. From 1846-1848, the United States seized control of several Mexican territories in California, New Mexico, and northern Mexico in an effort to gain broader control of the predominately Mexican west coast. US forces eventually overwhelmed Mexico's defenses. The nations reached a treaty deal in February of 1848 that gave the United States possession of more than half a million square miles of land that previously belonged to Mexico. This land included territories in the future states of California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
Despite the clear American victory, tensions remained between American and Mexican settlers. The United States granted citizenship to the Mexican people who wanted to remain on their land, but many Mexicans did not understand American property laws. This made them vulnerable to deceitful American businessmen who would con landowners into signing over large tracts of land for low prices. Americans also argued over the slavery laws of these new lands. Southerners wanted to extend slavery to the new territories while Northerners opposed this extension. The debate continued to fester until finally culminating with the American Civil War, which lasted from 1861-1865 and ended with the abolition of slavery in America.
Pacific Conquests
American expansion was not limited to North America. After conquering most of the continent, traders and politicians looked to the Pacific Ocean as their next venture. The government desired a US presence in China to strengthen trade relations between the two countries. Beginning in the late 1840s, American politicians ratified several treaties that improved diplomacy in the Pacific region. This included negotiations with Japan, Samoa, Fiji, and the Marshall Islands. Hawaii also became an important base serving US trade interests. The island was eventually annexed by the United States in 1898. That same year, the country acquired the Philippines from Spain. The United States now had a major presence across the Pacific. Combined with its near total dominion over North America, the nation had positioned itself as a leading world power by the end of the nineteenth century.
Bibliography
The Newberry Library. "American Expansion." The Newberry Library. National Endowment for the Humanities. Web. 6 Oct. 2014. http://publications.newberry.org/indiansofthemidwest/people-places-time/eras/american-expansion/
Hietala, Thomas. "Expansionism and Imperialism." PBS. PBS. Web. 6 Oct. 2014. http://www.pbs.org/kera/usmexicanwar/prelude/md‗expansionism.html
Establishing Borders:
Smithsonian Institution. "The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48." Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian Institution. Web. 6 Oct. 2014. http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson‗plans/borders/start.html
United States Department of State. "Milestones: 1830-1860." United States Department of State. United States Department of State. Web. 6 Oct. 2014. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1830-1860