Manifest destiny was a term used in the mid-1800s to justify U.S. expansion from coast to coast. The term was first used by John L. O'Sullivan, a reporter for The United States Magazine and Democratic Review, in 1845. Read his quote below.

Reread the excerpt and the definition of manifest destiny, and in your notes, answer the following questions.

1. What is meant by "overspread the continent"?

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   "Overspread the continent" refers to Americans populating more of North America.

2. How do you think the idea of manifest destiny encouraged Americans to want to expand the territory of the United States?

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   The idea of manifest destiny may have inspired Americans to expand the American territory because they believed it was ordained by God.

By the 1840s, manifest destiny was used to describe Americans' belief in expanding the United States from the Atlantic Coast to the Pacific Coast. Many Americans believed that the United States had a divine (approved by God) obligation to extend its boundaries westward to the Pacific Ocean.

The painting below is by John Gast and is called American Progress. The painting was initially used in western travel guides, but it eventually became a symbol of Americans moving west. Scroll over the circled areas of the painting to learn more about some of the symbolism within the painting.

→ Analyzing the Painting – Can you locate other symbols of westward expansion in the painting? What do you think the painter's message might be? How did you reach this conclusion? How does the painting relate to O'Sullivan's comment on manifest destiny?

In the following sections, you will examine the idea of manifest destiny and its impact on westward expansion and the territorial growth of the United States.