How did the concept of Manifest Destiny justify American expansion?

Manifest Destiny justified American expansion by asserting it was the nation's divine mission to spread its values and civilisation across the continent.

Manifest Destiny was a 19th-century belief that the United States was destined, even divinely ordained, to expand across the North American continent, from the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific Ocean. This concept was used to justify the annexation of Texas, the Oregon Territory, and other western territories, as well as the war with Mexico.

The term 'Manifest Destiny' was first coined by journalist John L. O'Sullivan in 1845, who argued that the U.S. had a divine mandate to spread its 'empire of liberty' across the continent. This belief was rooted in the idea that American democratic institutions and values were superior and that it was the nation's duty to extend these benefits to the 'less fortunate' peoples of the continent. This was often tied to a sense of American exceptionalism, the belief that the U.S. was unique among nations and had a special role to play in history.

Manifest Destiny was also closely linked to the economic interests of the time. The concept justified the acquisition of vast territories that were rich in resources and offered new markets for American goods. The expansion was seen as necessary for the growth of the American economy, particularly in the context of the Industrial Revolution.

Moreover, Manifest Destiny was used to justify the displacement and mistreatment of Native American populations. The belief in the racial and cultural superiority of white Americans, often referred to as 'Anglo-Saxonism', was used to argue that Native Americans and other non-white populations were not capable of self-government and would benefit from American rule. This led to policies such as the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which resulted in the forced relocation of Native American tribes and the loss of their lands.

In conclusion, Manifest Destiny served as a powerful ideological justification for American expansion in the 19th century. It combined religious, cultural, racial, and economic arguments to assert that the United States had a divine and moral duty to spread its influence across the continent.