6 Questions
What was the main belief behind the concept of manifest destiny?
The belief that American values and institutions justified moral claims to hemispheric leadership
What was the result of the beliefs and actions driven by manifest destiny?
Disastrous consequences for anyone in the way of American expansion
What was the role of God in the concept of manifest destiny?
God was believed to have ordained an irrepressible destiny to accomplish redemption and democratization
What was the geographical scope of the lands destined for American-led political and agricultural improvement?
The lands on the North American continent west of the Mississippi River
What was the driving force behind the expansion of democracy in the context of manifest destiny?
The hope that American success would be the nation's success
What was the result of the spread of American democracy throughout the continent?
The spread of American democracy on the feet and in the wagons of those who moved west
Study Notes
Manifest Destiny
- The concept of Manifest Destiny emerged in 1845, but it was a long-held, vaguely defined belief since the nation's founding.
- Three core claims underpinned this belief:
- The moral superiority of American values and institutions justified claims to hemispheric leadership.
- The lands west of the Mississippi River (and later the Caribbean) were destined for American-led political and agricultural improvement.
- God and the Constitution ordained an irrepressible destiny for the US to accomplish redemption and democratization worldwide.
- These claims drove many Americans to actively seek the expansion of democracy, often with disastrous consequences for those in their path.
- The spread of American democracy was tied to westward expansion, with settlers believing their individual success would contribute to the nation's success.
Explore the concept of Manifest Destiny, a long-held belief in American exceptionalism and hemispheric leadership. Learn about its three core claims and significance in American history.
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