Manifest Destiny is a term that refers to the desire of United States to expand from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean that began in the mid-nineteenth century, used to justify the U.S. annexation of Oregon, New Mexico, and California and later U.S. involvement in Alaska, Hawaii, and the Philippines. This notion had both its supporters, claiming that it was America’s right to do so, and its dissidents, who argued that …showed first 75 words of 538 total…

…showed last 75 words of 538 total…the government, therefore it had to be because of America‘s inherent destiny. Furthermore, Mexico was considered to be a weak country, so it would have to submit to American superiority and give up the lands it possessed. “Imbecile and distracted, Mexico never can exert any real governmental authority over such a country… A population will soon be in actual occupation of California, over which it will be idle for Mexico to dream of dominion.”