Concept

Manifest Destiny

The 19th-century doctrine that the expansion of the United States across the American continents was both justified and inevitable. Rooted in the 1840s, Manifest Destiny became a rallying cry for expansionists and was used to justify the annexation of Texas, the Oregon Trail, and the Mexican-America

## Context The 19th-century doctrine that the expansion of the United States across the American continents was both justified and inevitable. Rooted in the 1840s, Manifest Destiny became a rallying cry for expansionists and was used to justify the annexation of Texas, the Oregon Trail, and the Mexican-American War. ## Key Features Belief in American cultural and racial superiority Justification for westward territorial expansion Used to rationalize displacement of Native Americans ## Impact Drove westward migration and settlement Contributed to conflicts with Native Americans and Mexico Shaped American national identity ## Historical Interpretations Historians debate whether Manifest Destiny was a genuine popular movement or an elite-driven ideology. ## Related Concepts Westward Expansion Homestead Act Indian Removal ## Examples in History Annexation of Texas (1845) Oregon Trail migration Mexican-American War (1846-1848) ## Primary Source Evidence John O’Sullivan’s 1845 essay coining the term