In Hampton Sides’ “Blood and Thunder: “Song of the West,” the storyline is the foundation of west expansion, the hallmark of America’s history. Central to this narrative are three influential figures: Thomas Hart Benton, his son, Jesse Benton Fremont, and his cousin, John C. Fremont. These people had a shared vision for the future of the United States, espoused by the spirit of Manifest Destiny—that America was destined to obtain its entire continental expanse. The essay aims to uncover the goal they had in mind for the future of the U.S.
Thomas Hart Benton
Thomas Hart Benton, an American statesman, had a view of a country that stretched from the Atlantic to the Pacific, bringing influence and power to the European American coastal areas. The basis of his vision was that expansion was a sure way of unlocking the wealth, safety, and glory of the U.S. The role Benton played in the annexation of Texas that furthered California’s acquisition to the imperialist circle of Manifest Destiny highlights his dedication to the vision of Manifest Destiny. He passionately championed the acquisition of new lands for the West and supported the idea that it was crucial for the nation’s development.
Additionally, Benton significantly reshaped American policy for the West and Congress due to his influence in Congress. As a formidable Missouri senator, Benton leveraged his political muscle to pass numerous laws that opened up the West, for instance, the Oregon Trail and the Santa Fe Trail. By his actions, America has allowed its people to relocate, trade, and explore further into the West as the foundation for its expansionism. As reported by Slides, “During his first term as senator, in the 1820s, Benton proposed a public works bill that created a true national commerce road from Missouri to New Mexico—the road that became known as the Santa Fe Trail” (68).
Jesse Benton Fremont
Through her visions, John C. Fremont’s wife, Jesse Benton Fremont, also held a view of the United States’ future, which was allied to the tenets of Manifest Destiny. Jesse did not merely play a supporting role as a bridge between his husband and expansionist efforts, but her effort was monumental in promoting such activities in the American West. She did not doubt that with John’s expeditions, Americans would gain new lands, and growth for residential settlements, trade, and economic development would be the effects. Jesse’s contacts and efficient political manipulation also benefited her husband’s career in supporting the westward expansion and the great migration of people.
John C. Fremont
John C. Fremont, a notable explorer and military man, also embraced the view of manifest destiny and dramatically facilitated it through his exploration and efforts to expand the American domain. Fremont viewed western expansion as not only the nation’s ultimate destiny but also his direct duty to carry out scientific research in and chart yet-examined regionalities of the American West. Fremont invoked Manifest Destiny and owned by the nation’s territorial ambitions to justify his army acts from the Bear Flag Revolt to the Mexican-American War. He considered himself a torchbearer or protector of American interests, a crusader of Western expansions, and ready to apply violence whenever necessary to attain the goal. “His presence in California was the catalyst that made it possible… Fremont was now at last committed to the Bear Flag cause—and impatient to marry it with the larger American cause” (129). Fremont secretly incited the settlers to rebel against the Mexican authorities and quickly grasped that their actions would eventually benefit the U.S. cause.
Works Cited
Sides, Hampton. “Blood and Thunder: An Epic of the American West.” 2007.
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