Final answer:
Manifest Destiny was the 19th-century doctrine that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent, spreading its democratic institutions and forcibly Americanizing other inhabitants in the process.
Step-by-step explanation:
Manifest Destiny Defined:
The doctrine of Manifest Destiny was a widespread belief in the 1840s that the United States was destined by God to expand its dominion and spread democracy and capitalism across the entire North American continent. The phrase itself suggests a divine approval for territorial expansion and was first coined by magazine editor John O'Sullivan in 1845. The idea of Manifest Destiny included several key components:
- America's expansion from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, often summarized as 'from sea to shining sea.'
- The Americanization of natives and other residents in areas under U.S. expansion.
- Spreading freedom and democratic institutions was seen as equivalent to expanding the country's territorial boundaries.
Advocates of Manifest Destiny like Senator Thomas Hart Benton and John O'Sullivan argued that this expansion was not only inevitable but also a moral and righteous mission. Despite the positive rhetoric, it often led to the displacement and poor treatment of Native Americans and war with Mexico, resulting in the United States acquiring vast territories in the Southwest, including California.