Abstract This paper is based on the essay "Toward a Theory of Destiny" by Howard University professor Segun Gbadegesin, which points out several inconsistencies in the Yoruba culture's traditional notion of destiny. While Gbadegesin seems to conclude that the notion is not irrational, the author of this paper maintains that a deeper look at the concept is necessary before reaching that conclusion.
From the Paper "Another problem Gbadegesin addresses is that the choice is an illusion to begin with. If a choice has to be made, and if it is impossible to gauge any distinctions in quality between the options of choice, then the choice is illusory. However, if one subscribes to the notion of destiny, this fact is not all that problematic, for all choices made throughout a predestined life are illusory."
Abstract This paper carefully details the events that led up to the Manifest Destiny as well as the events proceeding it. It states facts by chronological order and commentary on the events of that time. It explains how that period in the United States was a period of Westward Expansion, when the United States expanded and gained independence from Great Britain.
From the Paper "On July 4, 1776, thirteen British colonies on the east coast of North America announced their independence from Great Britain. Those colonies included Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island. Vermont joined the rebellion in 1777."
Abstract In his essay "Toward a Theory of Destiny," philosopher Segun Gbadegesin points out several inconsistencies in the Yoruba culture's traditional notion of destiny, but seems to conclude that the notion is not irrational. This paper examines Gbadegesin's account of destiny in the religious tradition of Nigeria's Yoruba culture and explores some philosophical problems with this notion of destiny.
From the Paper "Upon closer examination, the connection between destiny and personality is much more complex than a simple "destiny equals personality" claim. It is not as if a person's temperament is contained in his or her destiny, rather, if one does, in fact, have a destiny, then he or she must live out that destiny in order to form a personal identity through experience. So, even if the earthbound Yoruba was given a destiny first and then was asked to choose his or her body, there would still be no personal preference on which to base the choice."
Abstract This paper takes a look at the term Manifest Destiny, coined by John O'Sullivan in 1837 in his "The Great Nation of Futurity", which attempted to explain and justify American expansion and westward movement. The paper holds that Manifest Destiny was sown into the fabric of American history even before O'Sullivan came up with the term. It traces the idea back to similar views held by Samuel Danforth's election sermon of 1670, as well as to Andrew Jackson's Second Annual Message to Congress. The paper explains that men used a collection of rhetorical tools such as paternalism, veiled benevolence, analogous conditions, the God argument, metaphors and exceptionalism to appeal to white Anglo- Christians to push and fulfill America's Manifest Destiny. Lastly, the paper asserts that the meaning of the term has changed today. The paper concludes that the United States no longer uses Manifest Destiny to seek land, but rather to spread American influence around the world as an uninterrupted political authority.
From the Paper "The Monroe Doctrine established the idea that the western hemisphere is hands off from European nations. The Monroe Doctrine and manifest destiny go hand to hand. The Monroe Doctrine came into being because of the threat to our security by Russian imperialist. It is believed that manifest destiny was to not only spread out to the West but also include modern day Canada, Mexico, Cuba and surrounding islands. The Monroe Doctrine sought to curb other nations, especially European powers desire to expand in the United States backyard. The purchase of Alaska was to stop Russian expansion in North America. Also, the United States wanted to provoke fear in Spain and France from expanding to Cuba and Latin America. The United States did not want any other country other than themselves to lay claim on this side of the globe. Beyond the Pacific Ocean shoreline with the U.S., manifest destiny set its eye on Hawaii. There was enormous "economic, political, and military power" of the United States that heavily influenced Hawaiian politics (Kagan 325). In 1893, the United States with the help of "light-skinned property owners" over threw the monarchy and Queen Liliuokalani (325-326)."
Abstract This paper examines how the two most influential events that shaped American history and impacted a good portion of the globe were the advent of industrialization and the spread of "Manifest Destiny," especially in the late 18th century and throughout the years of the 19th century. It looks at how global industrialization or that associated with the rise, progression, and effect of industry on national governments and societies altered the face of many nations by eliminating the long-held system of agrarianism and replacing it with massive industrial growth. It also discusses how "Manifest Destiny", usually associated with American policy during the later years of the 19th century and well into the 20th century, allowed expansionism into many regions of the world through the idea that it was America's God-given right to possess and maintain all those societies that threatened American capitalism and its democratic systems.
From the Paper "In the years prior to the Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, two of the greatest social/political problems facing America and foreign nations were based on the continuing struggle between the poor and the wealthy classes and the existence of ?Manifest Destiny,? broadly defined as an ostensibly benevolent or necessary policy of imperialistic expansion. Domestically, America was burdened by a financial panic in the 1890's which upset the lives of the urban poor and made the wealthy even more prosperous. In the cities, people demanded democratic change in many areas, such as the twelve-hour work day, the dangerous conditions in American factories, the exploitation of immigrant laborers, corporate resistance to labor unions, political corruption in local and state governments, child labor laws, inadequate wages and most importantly the on-going concentration of wealth by such "Robber Barons" as J. P. Morgan and the Vanderbilts."
Abstract This paper looks at ?Manifest Destiny? , a reference to the inevitable expansion of the territorial boundaries of the United States westward to the Pacific Ocean and beyond. It discusses how the concept of ?Manifest Destiny? was frequently used by American expansionists to justify the U.S. annexation of Texas, Oregon, New Mexico, California, and later U.S. involvement in Alaska, Hawaii, and the Philippines. It provides an examination of the factors that influenced the expansion of the country westward during the 1840s and 1850s, followed by a summary of the research in the conclusion.
Outline
Introduction
Background and Overview
Immigration
Slavery
Improvements in Transportation
Innovations in Agriculture
Availability of Native American Land and Resources
California Gold Rush -- 1848
From the Paper "In the 40 years before the Civil War, the rate of urban growth was not confined to the East, but it was the most dramatic there; in fact, by 1860, more than a third of the people living in the Northeast were urban residents, compared with only 14 percent of westerners and 7 percent of southerners. "Although the majority of northerners still lived on farms or in small farm towns, the region was clearly urbanizing" (Nash & Jeffrey 2001:335). As a result, tens of thousands of people headed North seeking work in major metropolitan areas in factories of all sizes. At this point, cities of all sizes grew. ?The population of New York and Philadelphia doubled and tripled."
This paper discusses Manifest Destiny, the belief that the United States had a mission, divinely-inspired, to expand itself and its system of government to the Western frontier.
Abstract This paper explains that Manifest Destiny, which began with the New York journalist, John Louis O'Sullivan, in 1845, was held by the Democratic Republicans during the presidency of James Madison to provide a sense of mission to citizens by using the phrase to promote and justify territorial expansion across the North American continent. The author points out that another desire of the politicians and leaders was the acquisition of new lands because land represented potential wealth, income, freedom, and self-sufficiency. The paper stresses that, as the citizens of the United States spread westward, intense conflict developed with the Native Americans and with Mexicans in Texas; Manifest Destiny was one of the driving factors behind the Mexican-American War of 1846, which resulted in the loss of nearly half of Mexico's territory to the United States and the long-term destabilization of that country.
From the Paper "Because of economic difficulties in the United States in the 1840s, many young settlers started leaving America for the Oregon Territory. The journey was rough and difficult. Most of the people walked the 2000-mile journey. Only the pregnant women, the sick, and the elderly were allowed to ride in the wagons. There were many fights with the Native Americans along the route and the possession of land caused them to continue fighting once they arrived. During the westward expansion, the Native Americans were greatly affected and were in a constant struggle for survival. They competed with frontiersmen for the fur trade, for land with settlers moving to Oregon, and with the Mexicans farming in Texas. New settlers were encroaching on their native lands constantly and their way of life was being challenged."
Abstract This paper discusses how destiny and fate are central in Virgil's epic poem, "The Aenid", and how the great power of fate truly did drive Aeneas to his goal of Rome. The paper explains tha, in the ancient world of "The Aeneid", following the will and course of the Fates was the one and only true way to live life to its fullest and that Aeneas embodies this ideal. The paper also looks at how, based on these ideals, Aeneas overcomes all who oppose him in order to build the great city of Rome, and finally fulfill his destiny.
From the Paper "However, the character of Turnus, Lavinia's suitor, proves to be the polar opposite of Aeneas when it comes to fulfilling one's destiny. Turnus knows that he is not destined for greatness, but rather to step aside for Aeneas, for the prophecy told King Latinus to "Seek not, my seed, in Latian bands to yoke Our fair Lavinia, nor the gods provoke. A foreign son upon thy shore descends, whose martial fame from pole to pole extends. His race, in arms and arts of peace renowned, not Latium shall contain, nor Europe bound: 'T is theirs whatever the sun surveys around," (Book VII). Determined to change the tides of his destiny, Turnus builds an army to defeat Aeneas, but all to no avail. Turnus fails even to burn their unattended ships, for destiny will not allow him to violate his fate and conquer the Trojan army, and as Dido was struck down after her attempt to overcome destiny, so also was Turnus, defeated in battle by Aeneas, after attempting to slay him, further illustrating that to go against your pre-ordained destiny is not only foolish, but often times fatal in The Aeneid."
Abstract This paper discusses the US concept of manifest destiny and relates that the general perception of the concept is rather hard to determine. The paper points out that, at times, throughout the decades, the presidents of the United States have made use of this concept with little consideration of the initial meaning. The paper also points out that, in the beginning, the political environment in the U.S. was that the mission of the country was to promote the values of the American Revolution, freedom and liberty in the region. Today, however, the banner of manifest destiny is used to justify the supremacy of the U.S. as it wages the war on terror throughout the world with the declared aim of making the world a safer place.
From the Paper "An interesting point related to the issue of manifest destiny is the actual use of the notion and its meaning for the collective mentality of a people. The idea that the United States has a mission above the worldly considerations of politics and foreign and internal affairs tends to motivate people for a cause. This could have been one of the reasons for which the notion was used throughout the conduct of foreign policy. In this sense, the Civil War represents an eloquent example."
Tags: supremacy, monroe doctrine, collective mentality, civil war, security council
Abstract The paper summarizes the book "Destiny Betrayed: J.F.K, Cuba, and the Garrison Case" by James DiEugenio, an examination of a New Orleans District Attorney's investigation of the murder of John F. Kennedy when he was president of the United States and his assassination. The writer summarizes the main points of the book and then discusses some of the plot's ideas and underlying meanings.
From the Paper "The book draws on the very real scarring that the American psyche has retained following the assassination of the president. It has been several decades but the nation still winces with pain regarding the cold and tragic event that started out as a wonderful celebration and parade. Those who believe the conspiracy theory rushed the Warren Commission report to the public eye in an attempt to sooth the fear, anger and pain felt. Those who believed the conspiracy theory held on in the hope there would be more arrests and many convictions for the wrong the public was dealt."
Abstract This paper discusses how "manifest destiny" was a term coined by President Polk to disguise his intentions of getting as much territory as he could. The author feels that President Polk goaded Mexico into a war that easily could have been avoided as the Americans saw that it was their right and necessity to keep expanding westward into Mexico's land and Spanish territory. This paper examines the events of the 1840s, when U.S. President James Polk wanted to purchase Mexican territories of California and New Mexico for annexing them to America. It shows that upon Mexico's refusal to sell that piece of land, the United States invaded Mexico, defeated it and forcibly occupied about half of the Mexican territory. The war, which started in 1846, ended with the defeat of Mexico and signing of a treaty at Guadeloupe Hidalgo in 1848. The paper shows how, according to the treaty, Mexico had to hand over Texas, New Mexico and California, thus being deprived of about one half of its own territory and a vast treasure of land and natural resources.
From the Paper "Looking back we see that the American greed for land did not subside with the conquest of Mexico. With the discovery of gold in and around California, Americans began to migrate [referred to as the Gold Rush in history], towards California. To speed up the migration process, the need of railroads was identified. President Franklin Pierce dispatched James Gadsden to Mexico to strike a deal for the purchase of those lands, which lay south of Gila River between the borders of the two nations. Because Mexico had still not overcome the effects of their defeat of 1848 and because the government there was in absolute need of money, it agreed to the sale of a huge triangle of land across southern Arizona and New Mexico at a total cost of $10 million. In history this deal is known as Gasden Purchase."
Tags: Guadeloupe, Hidalgo, Mexican, American, War, James, Polk
Abstract This is a paper that presents the concept of manifest destiny as applicable to the new world and the justifications of its imperialistic actions.
An examination of the life of the American settlers in the early 1800s who followed the belief of the Manifest Destiny, believing that the exploration and conquest of the rest of the country was their divine right as American people.
Abstract This paper discusses the life of the settlers during this period who believed that it was their God-given right to settle America. It looks at how this attitude affected relationships with the Native Americans and the rest of the people living in the country at the time. It also examines the hardships they encountered and a glimpse at the life they lead.
Introduction
Effects of Manifest Destiny Annihilation of the Buffalo
Settlers and Native Americans
Moral Considerations
Religion and the Puritans
Alternatives for Change
Native Americans and Their Land
Personal Beliefs
Conclusion
From the Paper "There were both positive and negative effects of manifest destiny and the move westward. On the positive side, many of the ideals of the east were brought out to the west. Some of these included government, religion, culture, and democracy. These were good things that the settlers brought with them, and they became very important in founding colonies, cities, and towns in the west. Having more land also gave the United States more trading power with countries such as Asia, and the manufacturing that developed in the west made America more efficient and self-reliant. The settlers could obtain or make many goods that had previously been obtained only by trade with other countries (Manifest Destiny, 2003)."
Abstract This paper explores how the questions of fate and destiny are handled by the characters in "Oedipus the King". It also explains that "Oedipus" digs deeply into the moral and ethical nature of its characters and unearths more questions than it answers.
From the Paper "The ideas of fate and destiny were a consuming topic for the Greeks. Their pantheistic understanding of heaven included gods who toyed with humans for their own covert pleasures. The Greeks built a society which sought to understand the nature of men. Were men free, or did the god's ultimately hold their finger on the pulse of the universe, directing even the most insignificant actions according to some unseen plan? Socrates, Aristotle, Plato . . . each of these men wrestled with finding a purpose in the randomness of life. Through the concentric events of Oedipus the King, Sophocles created his own understanding regarding the subject of fate. Although free, Sophocles believed that we were not ultimately the masters of our own ships."
Abstract This paper explores Thomas Hardy's concept of human destiny in relation to his novel, "Mayor of Casterbridge". It looks at how an assessment of Hardy's character, Michael Henchard, shows us the extent to which the combination of fate and human will is at work in the novel.
From the Paper "In an attempt to rectify the harm that he has caused, Henchard vows that he will not drink alcohol for twenty-one years. Here, Henchard's deeds of drinking to excess and auctioning his wife are his fetters of shame and disgrace. The iron that the world has brought him is his inherent defects of unmanageable anger and alcoholism. The combination of those two factors have changed the course of Henchard's and his family's destiny."
