The concept of 'Manifest Destiny' justified American westward expansion in the 19th century. What did it claim about America's fate?

• A. That it was destined to expand across the North American continent
• B. That it would colonize South America
• C. That it should isolate itself from Europe
• D. That it would form a union with Europe

Answer: (A)

Manifest Destiny is the belief that the United States was guided by providence and history to spread its republican government and democratic values across the entire North American continent. The fate it claimed was that the nation would extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific, ultimately filling the continent with American institutions and way of life. This idea helped justify westward expansion in the 19th century, including moves like settling and annexing new territories and wars that gained land. It doesn’t argue for colonizing South America, isolating from Europe, or forming a union with Europe.