![]() Ill-defined but keenly felt, manifest destiny was an expression of conviction in the morality and value of expansionism that complemented other popular ideas of the era, including American exceptionalism and Romantic nationalism. There was never a set of principles defining manifest destiny it was always a general idea rather than a specific policy made with a motto. Newspaper editor John O'Sullivan is generally credited with coining the term manifest destiny in 1845 to describe the essence of this mindset other historians believe the unsigned editorial titled "Annexation" in which it first appeared was written by journalist and annexation advocate Jane Cazneau. ![]() President John Quincy Adams, originally a major supporter of the concept underlying manifest destiny, had changed his mind and repudiated expansionism because it meant the expansion of slavery in Texas. Historian Frederick Merk says manifest destiny always limped along because of its internal limitations and the issue of slavery, and never became a national priority of the United States. The term was used by the then-Democrats in the 1840s to justify the Mexican–American War, and it was also used to negotiate the Oregon boundary dispute. Historian Daniel Walker Howe writes, "American imperialism did not represent an American consensus it provoked bitter dissent within the national polity while the Whigs saw America's moral mission as one of democratic example rather than conquest. Other historians have emphasized that "manifest destiny" was always contested many endorsed the idea, but the large majority of Whigs and many prominent Americans (such as Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. ![]() Historian William Weeks, describing American foreign policy in the early 19th century, wrote: "The rhetoric of American empire comprises three main aspects: the assumption of the unique moral virtue of the United States, the assertion of its mission to redeem the world by the spread of republican government and more generally the 'American way of life', and the faith in the nation's divinely ordained destiny to succeed in this mission." An irresistible destiny to accomplish this essential duty.The mission of the United States to redeem and remake the West in the image of the agrarian East.The special virtues of the American people and their institutions.There were three basic tenets to the concept: Manifest destiny was a cultural belief in the 19th-century United States that American settlers were destined to expand across North America. This entry was posted in Music and Media by bagwellsm. With “Carolina in My Mind”, James Taylor translates his sense of homesickness into a universally understandable representation of the Southern home that he remembers. Indeed, Taylor would later say that “Chapel Hill, the Piedmont, the outlying hills, were tranquil, rural, beautiful, but quiet”, owing to “the red soil, the seasons, the way things smelled down there.” That feeling of calmness and nostalgia is portrayed throughout this song. Taylor reminisces about “geese in flight and dogs that bite”, conjuring images of rural farm life and the natural world. Moonshine is also a stereotypical symbol of the rural South, and it clearly stands out in his memories of North Carolina.Īs we talked about in class, a connection to nature is also seen in many discussions of Southern culture, and “Carolina in My Mind” is no different. In the chorus, he questions “Ca n’t you see the sunshine? Now can’t you just feel the moonshine?” Taylor depicts the region as being hot and sunny, as is the case with many representations of the South. The lyrics of “Carolina in My Mind” immediately bring listeners into Taylor’s world, describing many aspects of his life growing up near Chapel Hill, North Carolina. In media representations, this sense of place is often seen in country songs, but Taylor portrays it in a different genre. The South is seen as very distinct, with characteristics th at make it feel like home to many who live in the region. There is a strong sense of place among many Southerners. This feeling of homesickness inspired him to write “Carolina in My Mind”, a song in which he reflects on his upbringing in the Southern state. Still, his home back in North Carolina was stuck in his head. In the late 1960s, James Taylor was traveling around the world, making stops in various Mediterranean islands and London.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |