Answer:
At the time of its creation, people might have taken a message of manifest destiny from John Gast's painting "American Progress." This is evidenced in the painting by the figure of Columbia, a female personification of the United States, leading settlers across the landscape. The settlers are wearing traditional American clothing, with the women in bonnets and the men in top hats, signifying their dedication to the nation. In the background, the sun rises in the sky, a symbol of hope and progress. The landscape is full of lush vegetation, indicating the potential of the land. The painting also includes a telegraph pole, which symbolizes the spread of communication and commerce, and a railroad, which symbolizes the increased mobility of Americans. All of these symbols combine to create a message of manifest destiny and progress for the United States.