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'''Manifest Destiny''' was the belief that it was the American peoples' birthright to control the whole of the American continent. This obviously gave rise to conflicts with many nations over territorial claims. The secret [[Ostend Manifesto]], written in Ostend, [[Belgium]] in 1854 by the U.S. ambassadors to [[Spain]], [[France]], and [[Britain]], was perhaps the first warning of the conflicts Manifest Destiny would soon cause. The document was essentially a plan for the United States to acquire [[Cuba]] from Spain through a purchase, and if necessary, force.<ref>http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0837014.html</ref> Southern [[Democrats]] hoped the acquired island would become another slave state, and that future acqusitions would negate northerners' efforts to prevent the spread of slavery. Abolitionist presses, however, when the document was made public, denounced the agreement and the plan never went into effect. While this did not lead to armed conflict, it was only a matter of time before Manifest Destiny would be put to the test. Expansionist [[James K. Polk]] was sworn into office in 1845. "Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!" became a catchphrase for the annexation of the entire [[Oregon]] Country, then co-owned with [[Great Britain]]. The slogan referred to the region's northern boundary of 54°40ʹ N latitude. Eventually, the 49th Parallel was settled upon, which now forms most of the US-Canada border. Polk also added the new state of [[Texas]] to the Union, and after the [[Mexican-American War]], nearly annexed all of [[Mexico]].

'''Manifest Destiny''' was the belief that it was the American peoples' birthright to control the whole of the American continent. This obviously gave rise to conflicts with many nations over territorial claims. The secret [[Ostend Manifesto]], written in Ostend, [[Belgium]] in 1854 by the U.S. ambassadors to [[Spain]], [[France]], and [[Britain]], was perhaps the first warning of the conflicts Manifest Destiny would soon cause. The document was essentially a plan for the United States to acquire [[Cuba]] from Spain through a purchase, and if necessary, force.<ref>http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0837014.html</ref> Southern [[Democrats]] hoped the acquired island would become another slave state, and that future acqusitions would negate northerners' efforts to prevent the spread of slavery. Abolitionist presses, however, when the document was made public, denounced the agreement and the plan never went into effect. While this did not lead to armed conflict, it was only a matter of time before Manifest Destiny would be put to the test. Expansionist [[James K. Polk]] was sworn into office in 1845. "Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!" became a catchphrase for the annexation of the entire [[Oregon]] Country, then co-owned with [[Great Britain]]. The slogan referred to the region's northern boundary of 54°40ʹ N latitude. Eventually, the 49th Parallel was settled upon, which now forms most of the US-Canada border. Polk also added the new state of [[Texas]] to the Union, and after the [[Mexican-American War]], nearly annexed all of [[Mexico]].

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[[category:United States History]]

[[category:United States History]]