inciple and destiny of growth” In fact, we can safely assume that Manifest destiny became the “ torch that lit the way to American expansion”. Though it is true that the phrase was coined in 1845, the philosophy behind the concept always existed throughout American history. Indeed, the reasons why Americans settled in Florida in the first place can be considered as another example of Manifest Destiny. Actually, the soil in the Deep South had been overworked and was exhausted by the extensive growth of cotton. Farmers then believed that it was their right to settle and take over the fertile lands of Florida, and to a larger extent that it was their right to claim any land they wanted. Some supporters of Manifest Destiny favoured rapid expansion, even at the risk of war with other nations (e.g.: Mexico), and others, opposed to the use of force, believed that contiguous land would voluntarily join the Union in order to obtain the benefits of republican rules. Indeed, Frederick Merk stated that “ Manifest Destiny [also] meant opportunity to gain admission to the American Union and any neighbouring people, established in self government by compact or by successful revolution would be permitted to apply ” . In 1845 for instance, with the almost unanimous consent of its citizens, the United Sates annexed the republic of Texas. But because Mexico objected to that annexation, American troops took position on the North bank of the Rio Grande, and on February 2nd 1848, the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, thus putting an end to the conflict. We have to bear in mind that by serving in the war of Mexico, US soldiers believed that they were defending the rights of the free people, that is the citizens of the Republic of Texas, to determine their own destiny (that is to say becoming part of the USA). The doctrine of Manifest destiny also claimed lands to make room for the oppressed people of the “Old World...
