The term “Manifest Destiny” appeared in newspapers in 1845, on the eve of the Mexican-American War. Manifest Destiny was never a stated policy, but a motto for the deeply held conviction that our nation’s conquests were divinely sanctioned and honorable. Americans did not vanquish to conquer, only to bestow liberty and the blessings of our way of life. The drive to subjugate the West had lasting imprints on the American character and the kind of leaders we expect. But it ran counter to our democratic principles. There are other, more inspiring ways to frame what this country means.

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Topics: Embodying Resistance