Manifest Destiny Reading Center
Directions:
1. Read the piece below closely, analyzing the meaning of each word and sentence.
2. Read the piece 2 times if time permits.
3. Ask yourself:
4. Respond to one of these questions in your notebook.
2. Read the piece 2 times if time permits.
3. Ask yourself:
- What are the big ideas the author is trying to convey?
- What is the author’s purpose for writing it?
- Which groups of people are not represented in the ideas expressed in this piece? How do you think the Native Americans and Mexicans felt about this?
- Compare and contrast the painting, American Progress and John O'Sullivan's writing. How are the ideas expressed similar? Different?
4. Respond to one of these questions in your notebook.
Excerpt from “The Great Nation of Futurity” by John O’Sullivan published in 1839 printed in The United States Democratic Review
The far reaching, the boundless future will be the era of American greatness. In it’s magnificent domain of space and time, the nation of many nations is destined to manifest to mankind the excellence of divine principles; to establish on earth the noblest tempe ever dedicated to the worship of the Most High -- the Sacred and the True. Its floor shall be a hemisphere -- its roof a firmament of the star studded heavens, and its congregation an Union of many Republics, comprising hundreds of happy millions, calling, owing no man master, but governed by God’s natural and moral law of equality, the law of brotherhood -- of “peace and goodwill amongst men”.
Key words:
domain: an area of territory owned or controlled by a ruler or government.
manifest: easily noticed or perceived; obvious; plain
tempe: valley
firmament: the heavens or the sky
Key words:
domain: an area of territory owned or controlled by a ruler or government.
manifest: easily noticed or perceived; obvious; plain
tempe: valley
firmament: the heavens or the sky