Manifest Destiny

Overview

Manifest Destiny was an extremely powerful idea in the19th century United States. The essence of Manifest Destiny was that North America was intended by God to be populated and governed by Anglo-Saxon Americans. This meant that the spread of U.S. democracy and industry was part of the Divine plan. Of course, there were other people on the North American continent who disagreed with this notion. Students will explore the idea of Manifest Destiny in the following three lessons:

1. Manifest Destiny and the Power of Perspective
2. Manifest Destiny and the Commercial Conquest of the United States
3. Manifest Destiny and the U.S.-Mexican War: Then and Now