What belief was behind Manifest Destiny?

Question

(1 point)
• Native Americans would benefit from the introduction of the settlers American way of life
• Settlers would benefit from the exchange of ideas from Native Americans in the West.
Settlers and Native Americans should co-exist peacefully but separately and come into contact as little as possible.
Native Americans and settlers could share the western land and work together to live in this difficult area.

Answer 1

The belief behind Manifest Destiny is best summarized as the idea that settlers were destined to expand across North America, often viewing this expansion as a moral duty and a divine right. None of the options listed accurately reflect the core belief of Manifest Destiny, which was largely characterized by the belief in the superiority of American culture and the inevitability of westward expansion, often at the expense of Native American populations.

If you had to choose from the options provided, none of them directly align with the traditional interpretation of Manifest Destiny. However, if narrowed down, the closest might be:

• Native Americans would benefit from the introduction of the settlers American way of life

This reflects a common justification used by proponents of Manifest Destiny, who often claimed that westward expansion would bring civilization and progress to Native Americans, despite the significant negative impacts on their cultures and communities.