Final answer:
The concept of Manifest Destiny in action is exemplified by the annexation of territories like Texas and the cultural assimilation of Native American and Mexican peoples in the 1840s American westward expansion. This ideology was supported by Senator Thomas Hart Benton and depicted in John Gast’s painting, "American Progress."
Step-by-step explanation:
An example of the concept of Manifest Destiny in action is the acquisition and annexation of territory such as Texas, which was annexed by the United States in 1845. One of the leading proponents of Manifest Destiny, Senator Thomas Hart Benton, made speeches supporting the notion that it was a divine right for Americans to expand westward. The movement was characterized by a strong belief that the United States was predestined to expand its democracy and culture "from sea to shining sea." This concept justified the American expansion across North America and was often cited to account for the cultural assimilation or displacement of the continent's indigenous peoples and other inhabitants.
The westward expansion movement of the 1840s, including the use of technologies like the telegraph and the railroad, was driven by the idea of Manifest Destiny. These innovations played a vital role in connecting and unifying the nation, which was seen as fulfilling America's divine providence.
The painting "American Progress" by John Gast, which depicts a floating angelic figure symbolizing the spreading of civilization across the continent, is a cultural artifact reflecting the ideology of Manifest Destiny as divinely ordained and evident in American society during the 19th century.