America was a country that relied on land to live, build, and prosper to become the great nation it is today. Americans’ relationship with the land made them have desires to own things that cannot be truly possessed. In the painting, American Progress by John Gast, the article “Manifest Destiny, 1839” by John O’Sullivan, and the chapter “Reporting to the President, September 23- December 31, 1806” by Stephen Ambrose, Americans desired to own land that was already possessed by other settlers, or they desired to own land that cannot be possessed. Americans moved Indians or other settlers to stretch their land and expand their new technologies and ideas. Americans also wanted to possess more land and trading routes to strengthen their government,…show more content… If Americans could possess more land, they could make their own laws and have more freedom. In the article it states, “We must onward to the fulfilment of our mission -- to the entire development of the principle of our organization-- freedom of conscience, freedom of person, freedom of trade and business pursuits, universality of freedom and equality.” Americans desired to own all land because they thought it was a calling of God for them to govern the North American continent. Americans settled west to expand their land and their religion. If Americans spread their religion with natives, they would have more followers, and then, they could possess the land of their followers. Americans wanted to spread the religion and idea of God to all settlers, but Americans could not do that because many settlers already had their own religion. Americans thought the North American continent would be a great nation of futurity if Americans could possess more land to spread their morals and…show more content… In the chapter it states, “Generations of empire builders had used the fur trade to secure Indian allies, forestall potential imperial rivals, and expand territorial domain...The course of empire hung on the trade and Jefferson knew it.” The more fast, safe, and easier trading routes Americans found, the more money the country made because Americans could extend their trading business with other countries. In the chapter it states, “The conversation would have had its downside, especially the disappointment over the Northwest Passage, but we can assume that Jefferson took the blow without flinching.” Thomas Jefferson desired to own the Northwest Passage, but Lewis and Clark never located the Northwest Passage, so America never had possession of it. Since Americans never possessed the Northwest Passage,trading with other countries was still a
