What was manifest destiny?In the reading I have it simply states that manifest destiny was a "national priority during the 1800's", but i feel as...

Manifest Destiny was the belief during the mid nineteenth
century that it was God's will that the United States of America should overspread the
entire North American continent. It was first expressed in a newspaper article by John
L. O'Sullivan who wrote:

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Our manifest destiny is to overspread the
continent allotted by Providence fo the free development of our yearly multiplying
millions.

Although it did not
become official government policy, Manifest Destiny played prominently in American
foreign and domestic affairs. It was largely behind several attempts to secure Canada as
part of the United States; was also a factor in the annexation of Texas into the Union,
and was a prominent factor in the Mexican War of 1848. Mexico had broken diplomatic
relations with the U.S. over the annexation of Texas; and was further offended when
President James K. Polk offered to buy California. When the U.S. managed to provoke a
confrontation between the Neuces and Rio Grande rivers, President Polk used the occasion
to deliver a war message to Congress. In the ensuing war, the U.S. not only defeated
Mexico, but also received large portions of the Southwest, including California, Arizona
and New Mexico. Only a small portion of the present lower 48 states remained in Mexican
hands. This was purchased as part of the Gadsden Purchase of 1853; at which point
Manifest Destiny as Americans understood it had been fulfilled.