Manifest Destiny

On December 27, 1845 John O'Sullivan, a journalist and strong supporter of President Andrew Jackson, wrote in the New York Morning News that it was "the fulfillment of our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions."  His article was very influential.  It fed the notion that Americans were a special people, whose God-given destiny was to carry civilization, democracy and freedom from sea to sea, even if that meant pushing other people off their land.