To what extent did nationalism play a role in the formulation and application of U.S foreign policy in the early nineteenth century?

***Since the ratification of the Constitution, the U.S had quadrupled over centuries in its' size. Many Americans lusted for the lands west of the Appalachian Mountains. It was so powerful that the British imposed the Proclamation of 1763 to keep colonists away. During the nineteenth century, many presidents produced territorial expansion in their own ways. Two of the most important events of the early nineteenth century were the purchase of the Louisiana Territory and War of 1812. Both reflected the driving force of territorial expansion behind the U.S foreign policy, but yet, there were more to come. Nationalism played a role in the formulation and application of the U.S foreign policy by the Mexican War, attitudes of the War Hawks during the War of 1812, Monroe Doctrine and relocating the Native Americans.
***The relationship between the U.S and Mexico deteriorated even more when the U.S formally annexed Texas in 1845. President Polk was not satisfied with this enormous territory and decided to acquire the California or New Mexico region as well. After the failure of the Slidell Mission, an attempt to purchase the territory from Mexico, Polk resorted to have more aggressive posture. He sent troops into the dispute area near the Nueces River and the Rio Grande. The U.S declared war on Mexico. Polk claimed the Mexicans had forces that crossed the borders to attack the Americans, but this was false. Even though the U.S army troops had poor trained and discipline, the U.S had taken control of the entire Southwest by 1847. General Winfield Scott, new U.S commander, captured Vera Cruz followed later with a victory in the Battle of Cerro Gordo. The Americans launched their final attack on Mexico capital and the war
ended. Out of the Mexico War, Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo(1848) was created. This told Mexico to recognize the Americans claim the area of North of the Rio Grande. President Polk was not satisfied with the terms of the treaty and decided that the U.S needs more land.
***As the U.S entered the second decade of the nineteenth century, tensions with Britain were exacerbated by wars in Europe. Both Britain and France violated America's neutral shipping and commerical rights. The British and French were equally at fault, but Americans were blaming them and Britain Canandians for inciting the Native Americans uprisings in the west. But in truth, the Americans hunger for more land incited the unrest. Shawnee Chief Tecumseh's attempted to unite all tribes in Mississippi Valley on the settlements in the Indiana's Territory, but failed when future President Harrison's force defeated him in the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. The defeat of Tecumseh clashed with the congress. Many congressmen that came to Washington for the 1811-1812 session were newly elected. Most were from Western and Southern Democratic- Republican congressman who also favored nationalism. They were labeled "War Hawks" and their hostility toward Britain was a large reason. The leaders of the War Hawks were Henry Clay, John Calhoun and Daniel Webster. They led the War Hawks to punishing the Britain military for seizing merchant ships, impressing American sailors and the violations of American neutrality. They also wanted to seize land from Native Americans in the West, drive British out of Canada, and annex Spanish Florida. Even though the Federalists and New England did not want war because they were Anglophiles, the U.S declared war on June, 18, 1812.
***At the end of the Napoleon Wars in 1815, the nations met in Vienna to discuss postwar goals. By the European powers, one decision was to restore monarchies and governments that had collapsed by Napoleon's Grand Army. Secretary of state, John Quincy Adams informed both nations( Europe and Britain) not to interfere in the territory that he claimed belonged to the U.S. European intentions of taking the territory in the U.S or colonizing the South America, the Monroe administration decided to act. President Monroe issued a stern foreign policy statement that became Monroe Doctrine. Monroe stopped Europeans from colonizing the Western Hemisphere. If the U.S found out about the Europeans thoughts, that would deem a threat to U.S national security. The Europeans decide to put an end in their thoughts. The decision made was for the two nations to stay out of each others way and for the U.S to continue in their territorial expansion.
***Even after the Monroe Doctrine, Americans still kept a wary eye on Europe and focused the other eye on the one major Native American tribe in the area Southeast of the Mississippi, the Cherokees. The next objective for territorial expansion was to relocate the Cherokees to the west. Cherokees inhabited several states which are Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Mississippi. In 1827, a tribal council established a constitutional representative government and proceeded to declare independence. Georgia legislature maintained that to declare a separate government and nation within its borders was unconstitutional. Then Georgia requested assistance from the federal government in removing the Cherokees from its borders. Since the federal government discovered gold in the Cherokee's land, certainly played a role in the state legislature's wishes to relocate them. The Cherokees felt insulted by President Andrew Jackson's lack of sympathy for North Americans and passage in 1830 of Indian Removal Act, which stopped their settlements. The court rule Worcester vs. Georgia that stated that the law had no authority within Cherokee territory. The chief executive would not use his constitutional authority to enforce laws when it dealt with the Native Americans and before it was known, the Cherokees was driven west. This act was known as the "Trail of Tears".
***In the nineteenth century, the United States shown the true meaning of nationalism. Every country or continent wants to have the dominant power and its citizens showing just that. Having the Mexico War showed that U.S had power to take over another country's territory. Having the "War Hawks" demonstrated how citizens can come together and fight for country's beliefs and how the Monroe Doctrine or any formal paper can put a stop to some kind of action or even driving a tribe out of its area, like the Cherokees, is nationalism. In the early nineteenth century, territorial expansion was wanted by many and the U.S best fits that example .