Final answer:
The concept of Manifest Destiny represented the belief that the United States was divinely ordained to expand across North America, not only in terms of territory but also in spreading its values and government system - Americanizing other residents and equating expansion with the export of freedom (a).
Step-by-step explanation:
Manifest Destiny
The concept of Manifest Destiny is a nineteenth-century idea that is central to American history. It embodied the belief that the United States was destined, by God, to expand its dominion and spread democracy and capitalism across the entire North American continent. This notion was used to justify the westward expansion of the nation and played a significant role in American politics and policies. Manifest Destiny suggested that the expansion was not only good but bound to happen regardless of who inhabited the land. The concept held that the U.S. would expand "from sea to shining sea", Americanize residents of any areas under expansion, and equate spreading the nation's boundaries with spreading freedom.
Specifically, this philosophy asserted that Americans would expand to the limits of North America, taking political and economic control of the continent. It also carried the idea that any inhabitants, including Native Americans and Mexicans, would be Americanized in the process. Attempts to resist were often met with force, under the belief that divine providence had selected Americans to oversee the Western Hemisphere. John O'Sullivan, a magazine editor, is credited with coining the term 'Manifest Destiny' and providing the framework for this expansionist ethos.
In summary, the concept of Manifest Destiny was a multidimensional belief that incorporated territorial expansion, cultural transformation, and the idea of spreading democratic institutions. The drive for expansion raised complex debates about the nature of freedom and the role of the state in such expansion, laying the groundwork for the growth of the United States across North America.