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- Date sent: Mon, 29 Apr 1996 02:16:27 -0500
-
-
- MANIFEST DESTINY
- and
- THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
-
- The Democratic party headed by President James K. Polk is manipulating the populous of the
- United States. President Polk, like his Democratic predecessor, is claiming to be a
- defender of all common men. However, this is only his public front. He is actually
- controlling the system to ascertain personal wealth and political power. He then warrants
- his actions by preaching John L. Sullivan's concept of Manifest Destiny. It has been known
- since the beginning of the 1840's that the United States is prepared to begin expanding into
- Texas and further westward. The Monroe Doctrine of 1823 has kept these "Ripe Fruits"
- waiting for the United States to harvest. President Polk's Mexico policy is abusive against
- Mexicans, Native Americans, and is irrational considering Mexico's feeble position. His
- personal political agenda is not in cadence with the fundamental principles that the United
- States is based on. Let it not be forgotten that expansion of this great Union is
- imperative to its survival.
- The Democratic party has always catered to the emotions of the United States citizens.
- During the
- 1820's the method of choosing presidential electors became public thus, the choosing of a
- President was more in the hands of the populous of this Union. Between the years of 1800
- and 1828, twelve states in the union changed to having no property requirements for voting
- thus, from the election of 1824 to 1828, the number of people who voted increased three
- fold. The democratic party, president Jackson in particular, exploited this change in the
- public's active participation. Jackson's campaign was designed to be appealing to the
- working man and the lower classes, such as shopkeepers, farmers and small merchants. The
- attraction to him was illustrated by the "rise of the common man". Jackson stated that he
- feared a strong central government because it could become a tyranny. However, while he was
- in power he purposefully strengthened the executive's powers. Thus, he was able to abuse
- his power without opposition. He did increase the executive's power by exercising his right
- to veto bills he personally disliked. Jackson, although deceitful and over bearing, knew
- not to annex Texas. Because at that time, this country and its people could not have
- afforded or supported another war. One reason why it would not have been supported by the
- people is because, expansion was still thought to cause republics to fall.
- John Louis O'Sullivan's concept of Manifest Destiny describes the United States as spanning
- from
- sea to shinning sea. This was written by O'Sullivan in a editorial that was meant to
- support the annexation of Texas. His editorial spread a fever of nationalism throughout the
- people within this country. O'Sullivan's idea portrays this Union's expansion as being its
- inevitable nemesis, blessed by god. Manifest Destiny supports the belief that for the
- United States to succeed it must spread Republicanism and expand its territories. His
- original belief of Manifest Destiny has no evil intentions to it. It is only since
- President Polk has been using it that Manifest Destiny's purpose is anything more then its
- face value. Polk is using Manifest Destiny to shield himself from his own actions.
- The Democratic party is using Manifest Destiny to change the public's perception of
- expansion.
- During the 1830's it was believed that expansion would cause the union to fall apart.
- Manifest Destiny has changed this and is know increasing nationalism and support for
- expansion across the Union. The ways in which the democratic party is pushing new
- territories is not in line with the basic principles of the United States. The Democratic
- party, unlike the Whig party, does not advocate the tolerance of other races and, is using
- Manifest Destiny to cloak its actions from the American people. The oppression of Indians
- by killing them, and pushing them off their Native land for economic and political gain does
- not attract allot of public support. However, our President is justifying these actions
- with the concept of Manifest Destiny. President Polk is using Manifest Destiny as an
- absolute truth with no moral obligation to mankind.
- Contrary to the Democratic party the Whig party offers a more democratic version of
- Manifest
- Destiny. Whigs favor a more humanitarian way of expansion. Unlike president Polk, Whigs
- support public schools, the abolition of capital punishment and asylum reform. The Whig
- party does not try and keep its supporters ignorant, because they were being denied public
- education. .
- President Polk's Mexico policy is based on his views towards the external and internal
- forces acting
- upon the United States. Externally Polk is hoping to spark a war between the United States
- and Mexico. He wants this because he knows the United States will conquer Mexico. This
- would then put him in the position to negotiate a deal that would take away all land that
- president Polk felt we needed. The war would also internationally increase the United States
- power. Polk could then ask for the California territory which is another one of his
- campaign goals. Internally Polk desires to annex Texas into the Union, so that it may
- become a slave state. This would also create a balance of Congressional power between the
- North and South. Texas becoming a slave state is important to him because it was the main
- reason why he got elected President. However he equally realizes that some places out west
- slaves were not going to be needed as much. This is a very delicate situation because Polk
- knows that all his actions, no matter how unreasonable, will be accepted by the populous and
- dismissed as the counties Manifest Destiny.
- President Polk is using his powers to carry out his and many of his more important
- democratic
- voters racial prejudices. President Polk, a slave holder, has his own intentions for what
- is going to be in store for the lands newly acquired by the United States. Proof that much
- of Polk's purpose is racially driven is seen in the different way he treats our northern
- partner. Polk rapidly agreed to a treaty about the lands found in Oregon. Since the
- British are Angelo - Saxons, such as Polk, he considers them actual human beings. The other
- major reason why he expediently signed a treaty is because that territory could not have
- been a slave state thus, it is of less importance to him. On the other hand what makes
- Texas and California so significant to Polk and his campaign is that the two areas could
- possibly become slave states. By accepting these two states into the Union as slave states
- the balance between slave states and none slave states would be greatly unequal. This is
- what Polk was hoping to do, even though it is not in this countries best interest.
- The Whig party finds Polk's policy on Mexico absolutely appalling. This party knows that
- if the
- United States just keeps a little pressure upon Mexico they are in such dyer striates they
- will concede. There is absolutely no reason for why the United States and Mexico need to go
- to war. The Whig party and the Democratic parties agree that it is essential to expand the
- Union. Externally it is important so that European powers, particularly France and England,
- do not gain control over land rightfully belonging to the United States. Whigs, Democrats,
- North and South all agree that to sustain individual liberties the union must expand. James
- Madison's assumption that as this Union expands it would gain stability holds true even to
- this day.
-
- Name: dest.txt
-