Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way (1861)

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I chose a mural painted by Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze, a German American history painter, in 1861 titled Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way . I chose this painting because it signifies the concept of Manifest Destiny. The painting emphasises the belief that the American settlers were destined for Western expansion and exploration. The mural's title is taken from a poem written by an Irish poet, George Berkeley, in 1726, which became a motto and symbol of Manifest Destiny in America after 1850. 

The painting depicts a combination of pioneer men and women, wagons, mules, and mountain guides travelling to the 'Promised Land' that is the western frontier. Two medallion portraits of the explorers Captain William Clark and Daniel Boone can be seen at the bottom of the paintings border next to a view of the San Francisco Bay, of which was seen as the ultimate Western destination. At the top of the border, a bald eagle can be seen holding a scroll entitled "Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way" - while beside this Native Americans and animals such as the bear can be seen retreating.

I therefore, chose this painting to illustrate the concept of Manifest Destiny as Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way demonstrates how the American settlers had the opinion that it was their God given right to own the land in the west, which thus resulted in the eradication of the Native Americans.