The White Americans
White supremacy can trace its roots back a great length, the most dependable notation of its existence being the belief of Manifest Destiny. This expression first being founded by a white Puritan known as John L. O'Sullivan in his newspaper New York Morning News (document 1, Chavez). It wasn’t until a congressman by the name of Robert Winthrop used the expression, which then fueled the war with Mexico by giving the war justification. In O’Sullivan’s document Annexation, he ends with, “…limiting our greatness and checking the fulfillment of our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted…” He refers back to the idea of manifest destiny to fuel the manpower and morale of the war, claiming it is correlated with America’s greatness, and to ignore their duty would limit this trait. In theory, you were not American without believing in manifest destiny. White Americans were especially known for their belief in God. This belief was used to justify a number of things, conquering land, owning slaves, disregarding suffrage for women… However, of all the unjustifiable actions, manifest destiny seemed the most influential and impacting for Whites. He also alludes to, “… patriotism…” If American’s were to claim “patriotism” in their country, then O’Sullivan makes the point to ensure that patriotism backs up manifest destiny. The document of John O’Sullivan specifically pointed towards the use of manifest destiny in the acquisition of the land of Mexico; however, the land in question was Texas. White people believed they were God’s chosen people, higher than all other races. Most of the documents in Chavez relay this position of white supremacy, which fueled America’s expansion.