Spotlight On American History

Manifest Destiny is the idea that the United States was destined to stretch "from sea to shining sea." To fulfill that destiny, the United States embarked on a period of rapid expansion in the 19th century. Readers discover the ways the dream of Manifest Destiny was achieved through informative text that supports common social studies curriculum topics. Historical images and primary sources help readers visualize how much the nation changed in such a short period time. Readers also discover how the idea of Manifest Destiny influenced U.S. foreign policy long after Americans reached the shores of the Pacific Ocean.