Manifest destiny
Definition
The 19th-century belief that the United States was destined by God to expand its territory across the entire North American continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. This ideology justified westward expansion, the displacement of Native Americans, and the Mexican-American War.
Examples
- The annexation of Texas in 1845
- The Oregon Trail and mass westward migration in the 1840s
- The Mexican-American War (1846-48) resulting in the U.S. acquiring California and the Southwest
Key Fact
The term 'Manifest Destiny' was coined by journalist John O'Sullivan in 1845.
Study This Concept
Practice Manifest Destiny with free review games in these units: