Theophany and Manifest Destiny

Theophany, derived from the Greek language and whose meaning is a visible manifestation of a deity refers to a human form under cataclysmic conditions excelling and progressing (Morse 1222). The conditions under which the new land was created were so complex and abstract. Coming to a new and virtually untouched land, encountering and subduing primitive people, and fighting for independence are all events and circumstance that appear that progress was inevitable and necessary. The idea that being in the new land there is an opportunity to create a country or a place with the people in mind according to how the people see fit is tangible. Many of the towns such as New England, New York, and New Haven expressed the desire for autonomy. Establishing a triangle trade created a viable economy for an emerging country. Listing grievances against the King of England and declaring rights for those in America helped to exercise its God given rights to rule over itself helped to create “American Exceptionalism,” (Foner 169,170). Americans viewed themselves as different and desired to rule themselves and these notions pushed forward progress in creating a government, settling land westward, and declaring independence from England. The “exceptional” image of Americans helped to foster new ideas based on philosophical notions. Actions of early Americans were radical and the opportunity to be free from tyranny led to revolution and a demand for reform. Demanding that Americans should not be taxed by England because the crown was not significantly present in American and revolting against such demands by acts such as the Boston Tea Party position Americans to have to choose; submit or become independent (Foner 160-162).

Americans are faced with an undisputed and obvious divine right to progress and settle westward, stated John O’Sullivan, a journalist from the New York Times (Foner 290). The mission was clear, more railroads, create towns, identify government policies and identify its own form of tyranny in slavery. Manifest destiny fostered ideas of race superiority as territorial expansion moved forward by government projects such as Indian removal acts, the continuation of blacks being enslaved and Mexican landowners losing their land as the United States is established (Foner 406). An example is the Texas constitution protected slavery and denied civil rights to Indians and Blacks. Only whites could own land; only upper class “Spanish” Mexicans were permitted to keep their land (Foner 405-407). One of President James Polk primary goals in his presidency was to bring California into the Union and settle the dispute over Oregon ownership (Foner 403). These goals are clearly impacted by manifest destiny because they exemplify the desire to make the country whole and establish it as our own. The impact of expansion and the atrocities they caused are viewed as the price of progress, freedom, and are necessary for independence.

Citations
Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty an American History. VolumeOne. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 2006
Morse, John. Collegiate Dictionary. Tenth. Springfield,
Massachusettes: Merriam-Webster, 1999.