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History & Social Studies · Grades 3–4

Manifest Destiny

noun

The 19th-century belief that the expansion of the U.S. across North America was justified and inevitable.

Example Sentences

"Manifest Destiny led to the displacement of many Native American peoples."

"The concept of manifest destiny shaped American expansion in the 1800s."

Synonyms & Related Terms

westward expansion belief

Quick Check

Which best describes the meaning of manifest destiny?

Study Tips

To remember manifest destiny, try writing it in a sentence of your own. Connect it to something you already know about history & social studies.

Use it in conversation today — saying a word aloud three times helps lock it into long-term memory.