The term "manifest destiny" refers to which philosophy from American history?

The term "manifest destiny" encapsulates the 19th-century belief that the expansion of the United States across the American continents was both justified and inevitable. This philosophy was rooted in a sense of American exceptionalism, which suggested that American culture, government, and values were superior and destined to spread across the continent. Proponents of manifest destiny believed that it was not only the right of Americans to expand their territory but also their duty to bring their way of life, including democracy and capitalism, to other nations and peoples.

This context situates the belief in the superiority of American government and values as the essence of manifest destiny. It served as a justification for territorial expansion, often at the expense of Native American nations and other countries, reflecting the era's attitudes towards imperialism and national identity. The other options, while related to American history, do not capture the central idea of manifest destiny as effectively.