Manifest Destiny

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/manifest-destiny

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the ideological period?Primarily 1840s, with roots in earlier expansionist sentiments
2. What is the key proponent?John O'Sullivan, who coined the term in 1845
3. Why did people want to expand westward?They thought it was a divine mission to bring liberty and build a strong nation, and it also helped them find new land and opportunities.
4. How did Manifest Destiny affect Native Americans?It caused them to lose their lands, face violence, and be forced onto reservations, hurting their culture and causing great suffering.

American Exceptionalism: The belief that the United States is unique and possesses a special role and destiny in the world.
Providence: Divine guidance or care; the belief that God is watching over and directing events.
Ethnocentrism: The belief in the inherent superiority of one's own ethnic group or culture.