<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> In the 19th century, manifest destiny was a widely held belief in the United States that its settlers were destined to expand across North America . There are three basic themes to manifest destiny: </P> <Ul> <Li> The special virtues of the American people and their institutions </Li> <Li> The mission of the United States to redeem and remake the west in the image of agrarian America </Li> <Li> An irresistible destiny to accomplish this essential duty </Li> </Ul>

The idea that the united states was destined to extend westward across the continent