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.
Analogy
Think of Manifest Destiny like a game of Monopoly. The goal is to acquire as much property (or in this case, land) as possible. Just like how players believe it's their destiny to win in Monopoly, many Americans believed it was their country's destiny to own all the land from coast to coast.
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.
"Manifest Destiny" appears in:
Study guides (7)
AP US History - 4.14 Causation in Period 4, 1800-1848
AP US History - 5.1 Contextualizing Period 5
AP US History - 5.2 Manifest Destiny
AP US History - 5.3 The Mexican–American War
AP US History - 5.12 Comparison in Period 5, 1844-1877
AP US History - 6.8 Immigration and Migration
AP US History - 7.1 Context: America in the World
Practice Questions (20+)
- What is manifest destiny?
- Who coined the term "Manifest Destiny"?
- Which of these groups would most likely support John Gast's depiction of Manifest Destiny in the painting, 'American Progress'?
- Which U.S. President largely supported Manifest Destiny during the mid-19th century?
- Which of these best summarizes the idea of Manifest Destiny?
- What is the concept of Manifest Destiny?
- How does Manifest Destiny relate to America’s involvement in Vietnam War?
- What is a common thread between Manifest Destiny during the mid-19th century and Space Race during Cold War?
- Which cultural trend in colonial America is most directly linked to the later idea of Manifest Destiny?
- What may have been a possible outcome if Manifest Destiny ideology wasn't as popular during the nineteenth century?
- How did Christopher Columbus's voyage to America indirectly influence future U.S foreign policy such as Manifest Destiny?
- How does Manifest Destiny exemplify an underlying belief consistently seen throughout America’s historical timeline?
- What was a primary effect of Manifest Destiny in mid-19th century America?
- How does the Northwest Ordinance reflect ideas later seen in Manifest Destiny?
- Who coined the phrase “Manifest Destiny” that played a role in developing America’s unique sense of nationalism?
- How did Manifest Destiny impact American society during the mid-19th century?
- How did the concept of Manifest Destiny influence America's foreign policies during the mid-19th century?
- How might the evolution of American identity differ if Native Americans weren't displaced during Manifest Destiny?
- Why did Manifest Destiny lead to conflict?
- What was a significant effect of Manifest Destiny on Native American nations during the mid-19th century?
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