Understanding Manifest Destiny and Its Impact on Chicano/a/x Communities

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Step 1: Understand the Assignment Requirements

You are being asked to define Manifest Destiny and explain its significance to the understanding of Chicano/as/x in the United States, especially as referenced in Juana Bordas’ The Power of Latino Leadership (2nd edition), Chapter 2. To structure your response:

• Define Manifest Destiny: Clarify the historical concept.
• Explain its relevance to Chicano/as/x: Connect this historical idea to the experience and identity of Chicano/as/x in the U.S.

Step 2: Research Manifest Destiny

Manifest Destiny was the 19th-century belief that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. This ideology supported territorial expansion, often through war or annexation, and was rooted in a sense of national mission and superiority.

Key points about Manifest Destiny:

• Origins: The term was first coined in 1845 by journalist John L. O’Sullivan.
• Purpose: Justified U.S. expansion into territories like Texas, Oregon, and the Mexican-American War, which ultimately led to the annexation of vast lands.
• Consequences: The idea often marginalized Indigenous peoples, Mexican Americans, and other minority groups who were displaced or oppressed by expansionist policies.

Step 3: Connect Manifest Destiny to Chicano/a/x Experience

• Historical Context: The U.S. expansion westward, which was justified by Manifest Destiny, had significant impacts on Mexican Americans and Indigenous people.
  • Mexican-American War (1846-1848): The U.S. victory led to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ceded a large portion of Mexican territory to the U.S. (now parts of California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and others). Many Mexicans who lived in these territories suddenly found themselves living in a new country.
  • Cultural Impact: The expansion disrupted the cultural, social, and political landscapes of the region. Chicano/a/x communities were subjected to new laws, economic systems, and racial discrimination that sought to assimilate them into the dominant Anglo culture.
• Relevance to Chicano/a/x Identity: Understanding Manifest Destiny is key to understanding the historical trauma, land loss, and identity struggles that Chicano/a/x people have faced in the U.S. The expansion of U.S. territory led to:
  • Loss of land: Mexican Americans and Indigenous peoples were displaced from their land.
  • Marginalization: Chicano/a/x people became second-class citizens, facing racism, cultural erasure, and discrimination.
  • Resistance and Identity: Despite this, Chicano/a/x communities have maintained cultural pride and resistance to being assimilated or erased. The concept of Manifest Destiny, therefore, remains critical in understanding the ongoing struggles of Chicano/a/x communities for recognition, equality, and justice.

Step 4: Structure Your Response

Introduction

• Briefly introduce Manifest Destiny and its historical context.
• State that understanding this concept is crucial to understanding the experiences of Chicano/a/x communities in the U.S.

Body

1. Define Manifest Destiny: Explain the core idea and its historical significance.
2. Explain the relevance to Chicano/a/x: Connect the expansion of the U.S. under the banner of Manifest Destiny to the displacement and marginalization of Chicano/a/x communities. Discuss the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the social and cultural consequences for Mexican Americans.
3. Impact on Chicano/a/x Identity: Discuss how this history shapes the identity, resistance, and ongoing challenges of Chicano/a/x people today.

Conclusion

• Summarize the importance of Manifest Destiny in shaping the historical and contemporary experience of Chicano/a/x in the U.S. and the importance of recognizing this history to understand their struggles for justice and equality.

Step 5: Proofread and Submit

• Ensure your response is well-organized, addresses all the key points, and uses clear and scholarly language.
• Apply APA style to cite any references if needed and check for clarity, grammar, and spelling.

By following this guide, you will be able to craft a comprehensive and thoughtful response to the assignment!