Manifest Destiny was a term used in the 19th century to describe the belief that the United States was destined to expand its territory from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. This belief was based on the idea that the United States was a special nation with a special mission to spread democracy and freedom across the continent. It was used to justify the annexation of Texas, the Mexican-American War, and the acquisition of the Oregon Territory. It was also used to justify the displacement of Native Americans from their ancestral lands.
