During the 1840s, the factors listed in the diagram—rapid population growth, economic depressions, the prospect of inexpensive land, and foreign trade opportunities—contributed to widespread support for Manifest Destiny.
Manifest Destiny was the belief that Americans were destined to expand across the continent, which tied into the opportunities presented by westward expansion, including the acquisition of land and the potential for economic growth. This ideology was a driving force behind the nation's expansionist policies during that era.