Sex and Manifest Destiny

Many factors—political, economic, sociological—contributed to the United States’ westward expansion across the continent. But the role that sex played has largely been unexplored by scholars. This is the first book-length study to examine such topics as Thomas Jefferson’s interest in the sex lives of American Indians, white’s fear of Indians raping white women, Christian missionary beliefs that Native American sexual practices needed to be altered in order to save Indian souls, and the desire of Mormons to practice polygamy. These and other sex-related dynamics all combined to play a role in America’s extension from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Martin Naparsteck has published two novels, a collection of short stories, and a book of writing advice. He writes fulltime and lives in Irondequoit, New York.

by Martin Naparsteck

Format: softcover (6×9)
Pages: 238
Bibliographic Info: appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2012
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6654-2
eISBN: 978-1-4766-0029-1
Imprint: McFarland

Preface      1
Introduction: Rethinking Manifest Destiny      5

1. Lewis and Clark: Exploring for Sex      13
2. Mountain Men: Escaping to Sex      31
3. The Missionary: Saving Indians from Sex      58
4. Presidential Sex      89
5. Saving White Women from Indians      104
6. Sexual Exodus      161
7. End of the Sex Drive      184

Appendices
A. “Annexation” by John O’Sullivan: The First Mention of “Manifest Destiny”      187
B. Thomas Jefferson’s Letter of Instructions to Meriwether Lewis      192
C. Meriwether Lewis’s Invitation to William Clark      195
D. Excerpts from Letters Written by Marcus Whitman      196
E. Fanny Kelly’s Petition to Congress      197
F. Joseph Smith’s Revelation on Plural Marriage      199
G. Mormon Church Ban on Polygamy      201
Chapter Notes      203
Selected Bibliography      215
Index      223

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