Manifest Destiny

The increase in population would cause a nation to definitely want to increase land to accommodate the growth and to prevent over-population which could eventually lead to poverty.
             Other reasons fueling the need to expand included the thought that land ownership meant someone was wealthy and could support him/herself. An easy way to achieve this reputation was to move west where land was easy to obtain. Land ownership could also signal political power which was very important. Another reason was "in 1818 and 1839 the United States suffered an economic depression" (Manifest Destiny). Instead of relying on the government in the crisis, citizens found life better on the frontier away from the depression. Trade was a very important part of the life in the nineteenth century so being able to live on the west coast would open a whole new window of trade opportunities. Ports on the west coast could also turn into large cities and prosper like the ones on the east coast and "promote new commerce" (Adams 332).
             Supporters of Manifest Destiny ranged from humble farmers and lower-classmen to powerful political leaders of the era. Though supporter's social classes differed, they shared many similar views. The supporters believed that the United States had superiority over neighboring countries in talent and political institutions (Adams 332). Some supporters decided it was "America's right to stretch from sea to shining sea. Not only do we have a responsibility to our citizens to gain valuable natural resources we also have a responsibility to civilize this beautiful land" (Manifest Destiny). The expansionists wanted to take over by force or purchase all the lands from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and from the Canadian border to the Rio Grande (Downey). Supporters wanted to extend the east and west borders of The United States to the lands bordering the Atlantic Ocean to the lands bordering the Pacific Ocean.