Explain what is meant by "manifest destiny" and describe how belief in that idea contributed to the United States going to war with Mexico
Manifest destiny was a term coined in the 1840s 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 divine mission to spread democracy and freedom.
Belief in manifest destiny contributed to the United States going to war with Mexico in 1846. The United States wanted to expand its territory and believed that it had a divine right to do so. This led to the United States claiming large parts of Mexican territory, which Mexico refused to cede. This led to the Mexican-American War, which lasted from 1846 to 1848 and resulted in the United States gaining large parts of Mexican territory, including California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.