TEES Writing Format Exemplar Essential Question: Was Manifest Destiny a justifiable cause for westward expansion?

? Thesis/Claim: Although some historians will argue that Manifest Destiny was a simple inspiring belief that was an appropriate justification for expansion, Manifest Destiny was an excuse used by those who had immoral convictions for material gain. As a result, Manifest Destiny was not a justifiable cause for westward expansion. Explanation/Reason: In other words, Manifest Destiny was not a belief, but a manipulative theory that argued that God ordained Anglo-Saxons as the superior race and the divine inheritors of the North American continent. This theory was a dishonest reason for imperial ambition, genocide, and expansion because the creators of the idea were fully aware that it could be used as a means to gain support for expansion. Evidence: One historian, Walter McDougall (New York: HarperCollins, 2008) asked a question that calls the belief into question. He states, if expansionist ambitions and argument were as old as the republic, why did the mania of Manifest Destiny sweep the nation in the 1840s rather than before or after? He implies that if it were truly a belief, one would not need to wait until after 1840 to expand. McDougall goes on to state, the westward march of constitutional government, [was] supported by steamboats, railroads, and telegraphs[in 1840] (2008). If Manifest Destiny were as believed as some historians have put forth, then colonist would not have waited for an opportune time to conquer. They would have expanded immediately and prior to 1840. Significance- When someone truly believes in an idea, and he/she feels that the idea is divine, that individual pursues the idea vociferously. American colonists realized the opportunity to expand, understood the material gain involved, and sought to conquer land regardless of who the inhabitants were. The opportunity presented itself in the 1840s because of industry. Consequently, the theory of Manifest Destiny was born. This is significant because westward expansion reflects a larger shift in US policy towards expansion and it affected Native American populations, and the issues of slavery. The effects on Native American populations were overwhelmingly negative as genocide resulted from westward expansion. The legacy of Manifest Destiny should reflect the reality of its consequences genocide.

What key expectations does this essay meet? Where would this essay score on the Rubric? Why?

TEES Writing Format Exemplar Essential Question: Was Manifest Destiny a justifiable cause for westward expansion?
Thesis/Claim: Although some historians will argue that Manifest Destiny was a simple inspiring belief that was an appropriate justification for expansion, Manifest Destiny was an excuse used by those who had immoral convictions for material gain. As a result, Manifest Destiny was not a justifiable cause for westward expansion. Explanation/Reason: In other words, Manifest Destiny was not a belief, but a manipulative theory that argued that God ordained Anglo-Saxons as the superior race and the divine inheritors of the North American continent. This theory was a dishonest reason for imperial ambition, genocide, and expansion because the creators of the idea were fully aware that it could be used as a means to gain support for expansion. Evidence: One historian, Walter McDougall (New York: HarperCollins, 2008) asked a question that calls the belief into question. He states, if expansionist ambitions and argument were as old as the republic, why did the mania of Manifest Destiny sweep the nation in the 1840s rather than before or after? He implies that if it were truly a belief, one would not need to wait until after 1840 to expand. McDougall goes on to state, the westward march of constitutional government, [was] supported by steamboats, railroads, and telegraphs[in 1840] (2008). If Manifest Destiny were as believed as some historians have put forth, then colonist would not have waited for an opportune time to conquer. They would have expanded immediately and prior to 1840. This argument, that Manifest Destiny was truly a justification for expansion, possibly stems from a Eurocentric perspective of US history because it does not take the consequences of expansion into account or look at evidence that points to its coincidental beginnings in 1840. Significance- When someone truly believes in an idea, and he/she feels that the idea is divine, that individual pursues the idea vociferously. American colonists realized the opportunity to expand, understood the material gain involved, and sought to conquer land regardless of who the inhabitants were. The opportunity presented itself in the 1840s because of industry. Consequently, the theory of Manifest Destiny was born. This is significant because westward expansion reflects a larger shift in US policy towards expansion and it affected Native American populations, and the issues of slavery. The affects on Native American populations were overwhelmingly negative as genocide resulted from westward expansion. The legacy of Manifest Destiny should reflect the reality of its consequences genocide.

This essay is a 3. It would be a 4 if there was stronger evidence of corroboration, sourcing, skeptical reading, or contextualizing