John Gast s American Progress - 1450 Words

John Gast’s â€Å"American Progress† and the cartoon â€Å"Forcing Slavery Down the Throat of a Freesoiler† both present several key ideas and events regarding American expansion and slavery during the mid-nineteenth century. Throughout this period many believed that expanding America’s territory westward was key to the growth of the nation, a belief coined â€Å"Manifest Destiny†. However, there was a stark contrast between the North and the South regarding what role slavery played in American expansion. A large number of people in the North and the West believed that settling the new territory was meant for free men and that the institution of slavery had no place there, clearly illustrated in â€Å"American Progress†. In the South, many politicians argued for instituting slavery in Western territories to create more slave states in order to increase Southern political influence. These conflicting beliefs resulted in intense political dispu tes that in many cases turned newly settled lands into battlefields. This clash of differing views regarding American expansion is captured in â€Å"Forcing Slavery Down the Throat of a Freesoiler†. The themes and historical events presented in these artistic depictions reveal how â€Å"Manifest Destiny† further intensified the racial crisis that the country was facing and served as a catalyst for the Civil War. Many citizens of the North and a large number of Western settlers believed that slavery had no place in the new territory America was settling. WhetherShow MoreRelatedPainting Is American Progress By John Gast847 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Fine art is knowledge made visible.† American Progress by John Gast, 1872 At first glance, the painting above may seem very odd. There is a woman flying above what appears to be settlers on the open plains. However, after examining this image closely it begins to make more sense. The title of this painting is American Progress by John Gast. The title of this painting goes along with the painting itself very well as this painting depicts American progress. The painting above is from the era ofRead MoreThe Expansion Of The United States1078 Words   |  5 Pagesnation with a great deal of $15 million from France. While, American development was influenced by westward expansion, the purchasing of more land created controversy. Many disagreed with the idea of expanding and taking over land because Indians who already occupied the land wasn’t included in the agreement that was made and the Constitution did not have any thing that supported this idea. Although, the Louisiana Purchase showed Jefferson s ability to make a logical political decision, it was opposedRead MoreThe United States Of The World War II1296 Words   |  6 PagesPresident Abraham Lincoln once said, â€Å"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man s character, give him power† (1). Power can be used to fight for civil liberties, but the abuse of it can lead to holocausts. Throughout history, power has often been put into the wrong han ds, which has resulted in genocides, holocausts, and massacres. The responsibility associated with power is unfathomable. The United States of America has fought against power and has successfully maintainedRead MoreAmerican Character - Then and Now2118 Words   |  9 PagesAmerican Character - Then and Now A notion that still holds strong today, Fredrick Jackson Turners idea of American character was one based on trials and experiences. Unlike Crevecour, Turner believed that American character was not simply a product of English character transported to America, but rather another idea altogether (Faragher 63). He expressed this opinion the best when he said, In the crucible of the frontier the immigrants were Americanized, liberated, and fused into a mixedRead MoreA Popular American Topic On The 19th Century2982 Words   |  12 PagesA popular American topic taking place in the nineteenth century has been seen as the story of the young nation and its settlement along with its expansion. This tale is often generates a bit of controversy because it was at the expense of the Native Americans lives that this young American nation was able to expand its wings, flourish its economy and set its self-up as the hegemon country in years that would follow. With the increase of population, p eople saw the need to expand their own personal