Final answer:
Manifest Destiny was a 19th-century belief that justified American territorial expansion and profoundly affected the political, cultural, and geographic makeup of the United States. It led to significant growth and the spread of American values, but also to the suffering of indigenous peoples and tensions over slavery. Its legacy continues to influence U.S. foreign policy and the nation's worldview.
Step-by-step explanation:
Manifest Destiny and its Impact on the United States
Manifest Destiny was a 19th-century doctrine that played a significant role in shaping the United States by justifying the expansion of its territory. The term, coined by John O'Sullivan, suggested that the United States was destined—by God, no less—to expand its dominion and spread democracy and capitalism across the entire North American continent. The essence of Manifest Destiny held that the expansion was not only good but bound to happen, as it would spread the values of freedom and democracy "from sea to shining sea." This ideology was used to rationalize the annexation of Texas, the Oregon Territory, and the Mexican-American War, which led to the acquisition of territories in the southwest, including California.
As a result of Manifest Destiny, the United States saw significant territorial growth, but this also led to the forceful removal and Americanization of indigenous peoples, as well as heightened tensions over the spread of slavery. Although the term is not used in the same way today, the effects of Manifest Destiny are still felt in the form of American foreign policy, military actions abroad, and the nation's sense of its own destiny on the world stage. Contemporary geopolitical strategies and doctrines that echo Manifest Destiny suggest this 19th-century concept continues to influence the United States’ role in international affairs.
The belief in expansion as a way to promote freedom and democracy was not confined to the 1840s; it also appeared later in the 1890s expansion. Technological advancements, particularly in transportation, dramatically transformed American cities and communities, leading to the development of edge cities—suburban hubs with all the amenities of an urban center, but located outside of traditional downtown areas.