Beyond the Mississippi

The years 1840 to 1890 were a time span of large development for the United States. It was throughout this time span that the United States came to the conclusion that it had a manifest destiny, that is, it was instructed by God to someday occupy the whole North American continent.

The Oregon Territory became a part of the United States in 1846, pursued by the Mexican Cession in 1848 and the Gadsden Purchase in 1853. At this stage the United States had carried out its manifest destiny, it got from east to west, from sea to glowing sea. ...