Manifest Destiny and American Territorial Expansion

            Manifest Destiny is an event and philosophy that changed how the United States expanded from thirteen colonies into what it is today. The term "Manifest Destiny," was first used in 1845 by John O'Sullivan, to give explanation for the United States' right of expansion. He stated that".the right of our manifest destiny to overspread and to possess the whole of the continent which Providence has given us for the development of the great experiment of liberty and federal development of self government entrusted to us. It is right such as that of the tree to the space of air and the earth suitable for the full expansion of its principle and destiny of growth." The principle behind Manifest Destiny has been around since Christopher Columbus first discovered the Caribbean. Many years after Columbus' discovery of the New World, Europe and Mexico were wanting to expand, and control new territories in North America. This want for new territory, would cause boundary issues and fears to arise soon after the Revolutionary War with the fledgling government of the United States. These boundary issues and fears would help the supporters, who wanted to expand the United States borders, to push for acquiring new territories in North America.
             Not long after the Revolutionary War, the government of the United States began to want to expand into territories that were occupied by European and Native American peoples. Using a Doctrine of Discovery, which was an international law that was started in the 15th century and was used in Colonial America, any land that was discovered or found was turned over to the United States under their control, despite having indigenous people living on the land. During his presidency, Thomas Jefferson was the one at the forefront of this push to use the Doctrine of Discovery for the exploration of America. Jefferson understood this Doctrine and he used it to move Native American tribes west of the Mississippi River, as well as bought Louisiana from France and he sent Lewis and Clark on their expedition to the Pacific Northwest Territory.