Juan Saenz

1301

History

Manifest Destiny

The article written by Sullivan seems to be a vision of what the United States was suppose to be to the world at that time. It seems to explain that the United States is the nation of the future with new ideas and fresh ideals. He explains that this nation of the future is disconnected from the past of other nations and that it just looks forward. For him this vision is for anyone as he explains that it is universal.

Sullivan explains that the United States is different from Europe and from past nations. The United States is a new nation without any connection to the old countries of Europe. The reason being is because this nation has only fought in favor of the oppressed and has defended liberty. None of its heroes have seek thrones all of them have fought to defend their homes. In other words they do not have the bloody past the European nations have had.

The United States was the nation of the future to Sullivan since they have fought for universal liberty. The destiny was to spread their ideals of democracy and to do good deeds for humanity. For him only greatness lied ahead for this grand nation to spread the divine truth . This magnificent mission of the United States could stand up against any earthly power. This mission to improve the human race was something from above and it was no doubt God's will. The statement of the United States being the nation of the future was something other nations wouldn't agreed, and I would not either. First of all this article was written to encourage the annexation of Texas which had started because Texas being a state of Mexico had feuds with the Mexican government over slavery. Slavery was already illegal in Mexico and this had led to the Texas-Mexican war. According to Sullivan this liberty the United States had fought for was universal but it did not include slaves. There are contradictions on their article as well about the United States had fought wars and battles without oppressing anyone. The United States by now

Juan Saenz
1301

History

had oppressed Native Americans that inhabited the United States and had oppressed African slaves for almost a century. The Mexican government could be the first to refute this since they were fighting oppression from the United States and were fighting against the Texans since they wanted to keep their slaves against Mexican law.

The San Patricios were Catholic Europeans who betrayed the United States Army when they believed that they were fighting on the wrong side against fellow Catholics. Ironically what triggered these doubts was the mistreatment they suffered when they were enlisted in the United States Army, which seem contradictory to the ideal of Manifest Destiny which was universal freedom. They were hazed and oppressed for being Catholic in a Protestant majority army and nation. Riley was their leader and him and many others fled to Mexico after deserting the U. S Army. After fleeing to Mexico they decided to fight in the Mexican Army. Riley led these traitors to fight against the country that mistreated them.They ended up being heroes for the Mexican Army and later considered martyrs.