What was ‘Manifest Destiny’?

'Manifest Destiny' was the American ideology of the 18th century that held the belief that Amricans were destined to settle and claim the land to the west as part of American expansionism. It was the idea that it was a mission for American settlement to spread from coast to coast. With this ideology came the belief that part of this destiny allowed for the progress of liberty and industrial opportunities, but also had numerous consequences for those whose land was being conquered. The series of events that formulated with this ideology included the persecution of Native American tribes and the claiming of territories in Mexico through warfare. In conclusion this term was used as a justification for American expansionism, despite the underlying consequences it produced for non-American peoples.