What is manifest destiny?

What is manifest destiny?

Manifest Destiny was a 19th-century American belief that the United States was destined by God to expand its territory and spread its values and institutions across the entire North American continent and beyond. This idea was used to justify territorial expansion and American imperialism, particularly in the western and southern regions of the continent.

The idea of Manifest Destiny was used to justify the Mexican-American War, the annexation of Texas, and the forced relocation of Native American tribes to reservations in the late 1800s. It also influenced American foreign policy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as the United States sought to expand its influence and control over territories in the Caribbean, Pacific, and beyond.

Although the idea of Manifest Destiny has been discredited and criticized for its role in promoting American imperialism and violating the rights of indigenous peoples, it continues to shape American cultural and political discourse in various ways.