From Dream to Reality: How Manifest Destiny Shaped the United States

America is a vast country covering thousands of square miles of land across incredibly diverse climates and landscapes.From high and majestic mountains, vast deserts to vast fertile plains that seem to go on forever, the sheer breadth of America's physical landscape is awe-inspiring.

Of course, this was not always the case.When early settlers landed on the east coast and carved out their humble settlements, they had no idea of the vast expanse of land that lay to the west.It took the daring explorations of surveyors like Lewis and Clark to report back on the amazing amount of physical space available for Americans to inhabit.

At first, the idea of a country seemed impossible for the early settlers to grasp.They came here to escape persecution, tyranny, or to make a new home for their families.If they could look a few hundred years into the future and see the strength of a nation that would grow out of their hard work in those early years, they would be surprised that this country grew into a world power.So, the earliest challenge of the early settlers and leaders of the young American nation was to understand the scope of what they would accomplish.

However, they managed to grasp that scope.It seems that the physical majesty of what would become the American nation inspired a concept as majestic as the land itself, the concept of Manifest Destiny.Destiny was the force that drove settlers and explorers to drive their wagon trains across sometimes impossible terrain through difficult weather conditions and face numerous dangers from animals and Native Americans to establish a nation that stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific.

This was the dream of the early settlers of this country.They saw not only a new country but also an important country, an almost holy calling to become a virtual utopia of democracy and opportunity.And part of that utopian vision was the idea of a country that stretched from ocean to ocean and from Mexico to the Canadian border.  

When you think about it, it's phenomenal that people who don't have the photographs of space landscapes or high-speed travel that are common today can get a vision of a unified country of such size and scope.However, it was more than just physical size that spoke to the hearts and souls of the American people of that time.Manifest Destiny speaks to the vision of American greatness that was born in the hearts of these early citizens.  

The size of this country became a reflection of the greatness of the human spirit and the greatness of the American experiment to build a country built on freedom, the will of the people, and democracy and opportunity.Today, such a concept seems mundane and for that we can thank the early founding fathers for capturing the dream together and making it a reality.

Many have criticized Manifest Destiny as greed or empire building.And to be sure, mistakes were made and many people died or suffered terrible fates in the massive westward rush that America experienced in its early decades.What has not diminished, however, is the sense of calling and the feeling that America was put here for something great.That calling is still alive in the hearts of all true Americans as we figure out how we too can help our country fulfill its Manifest Destiny to be a voice for freedom and liberty in the world.May Americans never lose their sense of calling and destiny.For if it is lost, something sacred and great will die with it..

Manifest Destiny was a powerful belief that shaped the early history of the United States. It was more than just a vision of territorial expansion; it embodied the aspirations and ideals of the American people. The vast physical size of the country seemed to mirror the greatness of the human spirit and the grandeur of the American experiment.

The pioneers and explorers who ventured across treacherous terrain and endured harsh conditions were driven by a sense of destiny. They saw the vast land as an opportunity to create a virtuous and prosperous nation, a beacon of democracy and opportunity. They dreamed of a united country stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from Mexico to the Canadian border.

Considering the limited means of transportation and the lack of modern technology, it is remarkable that these early settlers could conceive such a grand vision. They didn't have access to satellite images or high-speed travel that we take for granted today. Yet, their vision went beyond physical size; it spoke to the hearts and souls of the American people.

Manifest Destiny was about the greatness of America born in the hearts of its early citizens. The size of the nation was a reflection of the magnificence of the human spirit and the grand experiment of building a country based on freedom, the will of the people, democracy, and opportunity. The early founders of the nation captured this dream together and made it a reality.

Critics argue that Manifest Destiny was driven by greed or an imperialistic ambition. There were certainly mistakes made, and many lives were lost or adversely affected during the westward expansion. However, what remains unchanged is the sense of calling and the belief that America was destined for something great. This calling still lives in the hearts of all true Americans as we seek to fulfill our Manifest Destiny by being a voice for freedom and independence in the world.

It is my hope that the American people never lose their sense of calling and destiny. For if it were to vanish, something sacred and magnificent would die along with it. Let us continue to strive for a nation that upholds the values of freedom and opportunity, and may we always remember the profound importance of Manifest Destiny in shaping the history and future of the United States.