Manifest Destiny

Definition

Manifest Destiny was a 19th-century belief that the United States was destined and divinely ordained to expand across the North American continent, from the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific Ocean.

Related terms

Westward Expansion: This term refers to the period of U.S. history when settlers moved westward across the continent, often driven by the idea of Manifest Destiny.

Oregon Trail: A 2,170-mile route from Missouri to Oregon used by pioneers during the mid-1800s. It symbolizes one aspect of Manifest Destiny - moving west for new opportunities.

Indian Removal Act: Passed in 1830 under President Andrew Jackson, this act forced Native American tribes living in southeastern U.S. states towards lands west of Mississippi River - another example of expansion tied with Manifest Destiny.