Ideologies That Supported Territorial Expansion

Territorial expansions was an objective of the U.S government proven by the removal of Native Americans and by the Mexican American War. America's foreign policy was based of the War Hawks in the 1700's. The nationalism from the War Hawks was expanded by America's accomplishment of the War of 1812 which cause nationalism to spread. Nationalism played a role in the formulation and application of U.S.foreign policy in the early nineteenth century to the extent of treaties and the expansion of land.Various groups and Ideas supported territorial expansion for economic, political, and cultural reasons. The expansion plans that were influenced was the Mexican-American War, War of 1812, and The Monroe Doctrine.

The interest of Territorial expansion and the quest for empire cut across many segments of the American population. The Louisiana Territory of 1803 and the War of 1812 both are a reflection of territorial expansion. The War Hawks wanted to seize land from the Native Americans in the west, and drive the British from Canada.They kept in mind that the war with Britain would damage their commercial Interest. Moving the Native Americans farther West would have gave more land expansion and the land could be used by more whites. President Monroe issued a foreign policy statement that became the Monroe Doctrine. The Monroe Doctrine was taken as a defensive strategic policy. It was a policy that helped nationalize the formulation of of U.S. foreign policies. Monroe advised the Europeans from colonizing the western parts. It was mostly like a compromise because Europe should stay out of the western hemisphere and the united states should stay out of Europe. In order for the U.S to have control over the western hemisphere, it would have to prevent European nations from dominating.

The Webster Ashburton Treaty of 1842, the united states and Britain had settled the boundary dispute between Maine and Canada and also agreed to abolish the slave trade. They began arguing again over the Oregon territory's northern border. Soon the Americans offended the 49Th parallel as the dividing line which was rejected by the British. Britain was in no mood for another war with the united states. In the Oregon settle the uproar peacefully by extending the Oregon Territory and the Canadian Border along the 49Th parallel. In the Mexican-American War the United States formally annexed Texas in 1845. Polk was not satisfied with acquiring this enormous territory. Polk wanted to acquire the California and New Mexico region also. After the failure to attempt to purchase the territory from Mexico. Polk took it to an aggressive extent.

In the perspective of many Americans thought that area belonged to the Mexicans.Then the United States declared war on Mexico. Rumor has it, the Mexican Troops had crossed the border to attack Americans. Even thought the Americans had a poorly trained troop, the U.S. forces had taken control of the whole entire southwest by 1847. More achievement followed before the Americans had their final attack on Mexico City. Then later, Americans had captured the Mexican Capital. The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo of 1848 included that Mexico recognized the Americans claims to the area north of the Rio Grande. Mexico resigned California and New Mexico to the United States in return for $15 million dollars. Also the United States agreed to assume $3 million in debts. Again Polk was not satisfied. Polk believed the United States should have received even more territory from the Mexicans.

Americans were proud with the new territory and the awareness that they had gained. The War of 1812 was a cohesive fight than predicted. They negotiators signed the Treaty of Ghent to officially end the war. The treaty returned the U.S and Britain's relations to the same status as they had been before the war. The U.S. neither gained or lost any territory. Then the Battle of New Orleans came into place even though it was irrelevant, the U.S. celebrated, manifesting an inflation in American nationalism. Although the war had sheltered New England manufacturing from British encounter even though New England merchant shipping had been seriously distressed.

These were the many things that helped the nationalism of the U.S. foreign affair policies. The Mexican-American War, helped expand the U.S. territory while also ruining its relations with Mexico even farther.The policies also made it so Britain stayed out of America and that America stayed out of Britain. The policies also gave U.S. Its great sense of pride. Also, The territorial treaties and policies were a big major help to receiving territorial expansion.