What term describes the belief that the United States was destined to expand from the Atlantic to the Pacific?

The belief that the United States was destined to expand from the Atlantic to the Pacific is known as Manifest Destiny. This term emerged in the mid-19th century and encapsulated the idea that American settlers were divinely ordained to spread across the North American continent. Proponents of Manifest Destiny believed that this expansion was not only justified but also beneficial, as it would promote democracy and civilization. This ideology played a significant role in motivating territorial acquisitions, including the annexation of Texas, the Oregon Trail migration, and the Mexican-American War, fundamentally shaping the United States in the 19th century. The notion of Manifest Destiny reflected both a sense of American nationalism and a belief in the superiority of American institutions and culture.