The rational marked America’s belief in itself as exceptional — as a republic and not a monarchy — destined to expand
While president-elect Donald Trump hasn’t declared Manifest Destiny as his rationale for wishing to expand American territory beyond its present boundaries, he very well might.
Readers with even a basic understanding of U.S. history will know about Manifest Destiny — the doctrine that the democratic administration of President James Polk relied on to expand continental U.S. beyond the 26 states of the early 1800s. The rationale marked America’s belief in itself as exceptional — a republic, no longer colonies of a monarchy — destined to expand across the North American continent.
A Battle for Greenland?
Trump’s recent call to purchase Greenland is the second go-round at trying to buy the Danish territory. When it didn’t work out in his favour the last time, he cancelled a 2019 visit to Denmark. It still doesn’t appear that Greenland will be raising the Stars and Stripes any time soon.
The world’s largest island, Greenland borders the Atlantic and Arctic oceans on either side and is home to Pituffik Space Base, a large military operation run by the U.S. Space Force with a ballistic missile early warning system. But it’s owned by Denmark and the island is governed by its own parliament.
As a result, Trump’s recent comments on social media platform, Truth Social, regarding the purchase of Greenland as necessary for American security and freedom is falling on deaf ears.
What happened during the first round of Manifest Destiny?
France was best friend to early America, rooted in its generous financial support for the colonies in their Revolutionary War with Great Britain. American negotiators were prepared to offer US$10 million to France for the port of New Orleans and the Floridas (east and west). Instead, Napoleon Bonaparte offered the entire Louisiana Territory, which then comprised a massive area from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains and the Gulf of Mexico to Canada.
Thomas Jefferson, who was president in 1803, had initial doubts about whether the American Constitution authorized the president to acquire new territory. But when Napoleon threatened to renege, his doubts vanished and America paid the princely sum of US$15 million (all sums mentioned are in the equivalency of the day). This was the first of many land purchases that eventually firmed up the borders of what is modern U.S.A.
The next two additions, those under President Polk, came in quick succession: Texas in 1845 and Oregon in 1846.
Was ‘Seward’s Folly’ a folly?
Hawaii was a sovereign state until 1898, when a coup d’etat involving a group of businessmen, including several Americans, called on the U.S. to send in the Marines to protect their interests. It became a U.S. territory, then a state in 1959. Also in 1898, Guam and Puerto Rico were ceded to the U.S. from Spain after the American victory in the Spanish-American War.
Has the U.S. had other real estate dealings with Denmark?
Why does Trump think America has a claim to the Panama Canal?
President-elect Trump has also been asserting American sovereignty over the Panama Canal. After accusing Panama of charging excessive rates to use the shipping passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans on Truth Social (on Sunday), he threatened “we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America” if Panama doesn’t rectify the situation.
American involvement in the canal began with American president, Teddy Roosevelt. Looking to bolster the east-west movement of American and British goods, the U.S. and U.K. established a treaty with Nicaragua to build a canal there, but that initiative never got going. Meanwhile, French efforts in Panama stalled due to malaria and similar diseases that took over 20,000 lives. After heated debate in the U.S. senate, the American venture in Panama began in 1902.
Trump fired back on Truth Social: “We’ll see about that!”
What does China have to do with any of this?
Trump’s overtures are not even the first American overtures toward Greenland. Proposals were made in 1868 and 1910. In 1946, the U.S. the equivalent of US$100M, but the Danes demurred.
While U.S. financing and expertise could potentially boost Greenland’s little economy, such a move would require consent from Greenland and Denmark. And neither appears to be forthcoming.
Who won the War of 1812, eh?
Trump has recently made cracks on his social media account about Canada becoming the “51st U.S. state” and referred to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “Governor,” stirring consternation north of the 49 parallel.
But then Canadians remember the last time America set its sights on Canada. We were part of Britain then. The clash is remembered as the War of 1812.
However, Canadians renown for our politeness, don’t like to remind our American cousins who prevailed.
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