Final answer:
Manifest Destiny in the 19th-century U.S. promoted territorial expansion and the cultural assimilation of Native Americans, not the restitution of their lands. It was used to justify American expansionism, which involved the displacement of Native American tribes rather than aiding them in land reclamation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Manifest Destiny was the 19th-century doctrine that the United States had the right and duty to expand throughout the North American continent. It was perceived as a means for the U.S. to spread democracy and freedom. Contrary to the idea that Christian advocacy groups used Manifest Destiny to help Native Americans reclaim their lands, Manifest Destiny often justified the displacement and assimilation of Native American tribes. The goal was to expand American territory and influence, which involved the Americanization of Indigenous peoples and the annexation of lands where they and other non-American settlers lived.
The concept of Manifest Destiny was not about returning land to Native Americans but was more focused on expansion and the spread of American values. Sadly, this expansion often came at great cost to the Native American tribes through forced removal and assimilation policies. Ironically, although some groups argued for more humane treatment or assimilation of Native Americans, these arguments were not in the context of helping them reclaim lost lands but were more directed towards integrating them into American society.