La Destinee Manifeste Des Etats-Unis Au Xixeme Siecle. Analyses, Chronologie, Commentaires Et Documents

The far-reaching, the boundless future will be the era of American greatness. In its magnificent domain of space and time, the nation of many nations is destined to manifest to mankind the excellence of divine principles; to establish on earth the noblest temple ever dedicated to the worship of the Most High-the Sacred and the True. Its floor shall be a hemisphere; its roof the firmament of the star-studded heavens; and its congregation a union of many republics, comprising hundreds of happy millions, calling, owning no man master, but governed by God's natural and moral law of equality, the law of brotherhood-of "peace and goodwill among men." ... For this blessed mission to the nations of the world which are shut out from the life-giving light of truth has America been chosen; and her high example shall smite unto death the tyranny of kings, hierarchs, and oligarchs, and carry the glad tidings of peace and goodwill where myriads now endure an existence scarcely more enviable than that of beasts in the field. Who, then, can doubt that our country is destined to be the great nation of futurity? John L. O'Sullivan, United States and Democratic Review, 1839. C'est en ces termes que le concept de " DESTINEE MANIFESTE " apparaît dans l'histoire des Etats-Unis. Le présent ouvrage analyse, commente et recadre cette idée, qui a toujours sous-tendu la vie nord-américaine, dans les diverses expressions qu'elle a eues au XIXe siècle : discours politiques, essais, récits, romans, articles de presse, pamphlets et textes officiels ou diplomatiques.