Manifest Destiny

I have been reading the book Battle Cry of Freedom and I am really enjoying it. I feel as if I am learning a ton of information that I either missed or just forgot from my history classes in school. (Many of my teachers would tell you that I didn't listen very well.) I was really excited to see all of the background information that the author includes in the text. It has helped me gain a richer understanding of the causes of the war and the contention that led up to it. I was really surprised to see the attempts and interest made into acquiring Cuba as a part of our country's doctrine of Manifest Destiny. According to the book at least 3 different Presidents (Polk, Pierce and Buchanan) made attempts to purchase the tiny island nation from Spain. Then when these offers failed, invasions were considered as the next viable option. I see that Cuba, with its sunny climate would have been a great addition for the agricultural economy of the South. I think I was surprised mainly, because this was a relatively new idea for me. I don't remember hearing in any history class I have ever taken about plans, before the Civil War, to make Cuba a state, or to extend our Southern border to what is now the Panama Canal. It would be interesting to think about how the country would be different today if we had bought Cuba and then kept pushing south. It seems to me that typical discussions of Manifest Destiny are very watered down and involve primarily discussions about Texas, California and Oregon. Maybe I am the only one for who this seemed to be new or surprising.