What was Manifest Destiny?
At the
start of the 1800s the USA was a newly formed country. There were many other
countries on the North American Continent, and the USA wanted to be a safe,
well-protected and prominent country. The US Government propagated their belief
in the Manifest Destiny. This
was the belief that they wanted to control the whole continent. They believed
that they had a right to control this area.
Who were the Pioneers
In the
beginning the Great Plains were seen as an obstacle to better, more fertile
lands and life at the other side. The earliest migrants who headed west were
helped by the Mountain Men who knew the land well. The Fur Trappers are an
example who crossed the Plains to get to the Rockies where they could trap
animals for their fur which was becoming popular around the world.
After
the 1837 Financial Crash there were few jobs
and much poverty. People looked around for a fresh start, but land was expensive
as the population kept growing. In the 1840s and 1850s people packed their
belongings onto wagons and headed west. The Pioneers
had heard stories of gold, fertile land
and were encouraged by the Government to fulfil their Manifest Destiny and
settle the west on behalf of the USA. In 1853 the US Government had succeeded in
gaining control over the entire continent. However they feared the British,
Mexican or French may try to reclaim some of these lands, and so wanted more
areas settled by Americans.
The
movement west also had a religious part to it. The Pioneers felt they were part
of an American Dream, God’s plan to spread Christianity to new lands and people.