Document Type
Article
Abstract
In high school and college history courses, Manifest Destiny is often taught as a period when the United States expanded across the North American continent in the decades before the Civil War. This article outlines an inquiry-driven lesson examining the Antebellum guano rush and its devastating consequences to show that Manifest Destiny was also characterized by extracontinental imperial ambitions. It highlights the lasting impacts of the 1856 Guano Islands Act and links the guano rush to subsequent empire-building efforts, U.S. militarism, and ecological destruction. The article provides relevant background history, descriptions of possible class activities and assessments, and options for shortening or lengthening the lesson as needed. It offers one way to explore a more expansive history of Manifest Destiny with students.
Recommended Citation
Fackler, Eliot
(2025)
"What Can Bird Poop Teach Us about the History of U.S. Imperialism?: Guano Islands and Manifest Destiny Beyond Continental Borders,"
The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies: Vol. 88:
No.
2, Article 5.
Available at:
https://thekeep.eiu.edu/the_councilor/vol88/iss2/5
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