Manifest Destiny

The phrase "manifest destiny" was coined by journalist John O'Sullivan in 1845. It held that the USA had a divine mission to spread American-style democracy, freedom, and overall progress to the Western part of North America. Theoretically, this divine mission extended to all peoples, but the Mexicans, American Indians, and British were less enthusiastic. Below is a map of the United States as it appeared at the dawn of the "Age of Manifest Destiny."