SAQ Manifest Destiny

1.
a) Define Manifest Destiny.
• Manifest Destiny was the driving force of Westward expansion in the United
States. It is the belief that Americans had the God-given right to colonize the
country from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Leading to an increase in expansionism
and the American Economy boomed.

b) Give at least ONE piece of evidence of how the idea of Manifest Destiny served to
guide the practice of the American government.
• Manifest Destiny guided the United States government in the form of treaties,
purchases, and successions. Land annexations such as the one of Texas was fueled
by Manifest Destiny. James K Polk used the idealism of Manifest Destiny to
guide the COIL system.

c) Evaluate the impact of Manifest Destiny on ONE of the following, making sure to
provide at least ONE piece of evidence to support your description:
The American economy
American foreign policy
The American Indians
• Manifest Destiny impacted the American Indians in a very negative way, pushing
the majority of them out of their homes and into Mexico or Canada. An example
of American Indian’s being pushed out was during James K Polk’s presidency.
Polk was president during the time of the annexation of Texas and the gaining of
land in California and Oregon. Due to the popularity of. Acquired lands many
citizens of the United States lived west which significantly decreased available
lands for Natives, and also wipes out many tribes.