Tag Archive for: Manifest Destiny

Manifest Destiny Reborn: Trump Reclaims America’s Bold Vision for the Future

“Go west, young man.”

When Horace Greeley, founder and editor of the New York-Tribune, penned this line, he could have never imagined that President Donald Trump would invoke the very spirit captured in the phrase nearly 200 years later.

America was at the height of expansion into the West when Greeley wrote those words. Following the conclusion of the Civil War, the United States revitalized the spirit of growth and development toward the Pacific, but only for a few years. Although an unpopular term at the time, the phrase “manifest destiny,” coined by the columnist and U.S. ambassador to Portugal, John O’Sullivan, describes the belief that God had ordained America to become a transoceanic nation. Many scholars suggest that the philosophy of “manifest destiny” perished in 1867, following the acquisition of Alaska, which completed the expansion across the North American continent.

The United States continued to expand westward with projects like the transcontinental railroad and Hawaii, which was acquired even after “manifest destiny” was long dead and buried. Still, the general passion for exploration, growth, and addition to the United States was a thing of the past.

It is important to recognize that without “manifest destiny” to inspire Americans to look West, our nation would hardly be what it is today. States like California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and others might not be part of America. Presidents such as Thomas Jefferson, James Polk, and James Monroe participated in territorial expansion, while Americans risked danger on the trails and prairies, seeking new lands and a means to build a new life. In decades since, the once-great flame called “manifest destiny” has become merely fading embers.

During his inaugural speech last week, President Trump declared, “The United States will once again consider itself a growing nation, one that increases our wealth, expands our territory, builds our cities, raises our expectations, and carries our flag into new and beautiful horizons. And we will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars.”

President Trump channeled the pioneer spirit of Americans not felt since President John F. Kennedy proposed putting an American on the moon in 1962. Modernity may not have the same form of “manifest destiny” as in U.S. history, but the concept of a blossoming country is once again alive and well.

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and Space X, believes that it is vital for a nation to have an appetite for exploration and discovery. Following the inauguration, Elon spoke at the Capital One Arena to over 20,000 Trump supporters. “We’re going to take DOGE to Mars. Can you imagine how awesome it will be to have American astronauts plant the flag on another planet for the first time?” Musk said.

Naturally, Elon would be ecstatic at the possibility of going to Mars, since that has been one of his chief goals for years. He continued by saying, “There [are] always problems in life. There’s this problem, solve that problem, solve that problem. But there need to be things that inspire you. There need to be things that make you glad to wake up in the morning and say, I’m looking forward to the future.”

Part of President Trump’s desire to make America great again is to reinvigorate the nation’s urge to overcome obstacles, conquer and tame the world, and discover new frontiers. For far too long, the U.S. government has lost its adventurous spirit, which became clear in the termination of NASA’s shuttle program and the lack of desire to add more American territory.

During his speech, Trump made a flurry of additional propositions to expand the United States for national security, economic growth, and the resurrection of America’s explorative soul.

Regarding the Panama Canal, he said, “We have been treated very badly from this foolish gift that should have never been made. And Panama’s promise to us has been broken. The purpose of our deal and the spirit of our treaty has been totally violated. American ships are being severely overcharged and not treated fairly in any way, shape, or form, and that includes the United States Navy. And above all, China is operating the Panama Canal. And we didn’t give it to China, we gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back.”

Additionally, Trump recently discussed acquiring Greenland for the benefit of its residents and international safety, saying, “Greenland is necessary not for us; it’s necessary for international security.” All these promises point to the fact that the president is determined to expand the United States’ horizons.

Not all forms of expansion are created equal. For example, arbitrarily invading a sovereign nation for territorial expansion is not justifiable. Trump, however, is speaking of reclaiming former American territories for national and global security and rekindling the desire to traverse new domains of human exploration.

America can never be great again unless it seeks to be exceptional. That necessitates that the U.S. be the most powerful and well-defended country on the planet and that it dreams of what to do or where to go next.

As the next chapter of America’s history is written, President Trump wishes to make it one of opportunity, achievement, and unprecedented accomplishments. The United States stands at a crossroads between complacency and an embrace of challenge and development. As we enter the future, the United States has what President Reagan would call “a rendezvous with destiny.” America is yearning to embrace our newfound “manifest destiny.”

AUTHOR

Zachary Gohl

Zachary Gohl serves as an intern at Family Research Council.

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