Manifest destiny: was it really imperialism?

Imperialism is, by definition, the extension of rule or influence by one government, nation or society over another; manifest destiny is the belief held by many Americans in the 1840s that the United States was "destined" to expand across the continent. This belief of "destined expansion" was nothing new to America's leaders for their vision of the United States when they first established it was that of a nation that stretched from the Atlantic to …

…of acquiring certain choice territories, can be labeled as nothing more than aggressive imperialism for that is what it is. We wanted land and we got it just because we did. We trampled over Native Americans and Mexicans just to establish trade routes and to gain political power. In the end we extended our borders by about 66% through manifest destiny, the doctrine that was no more that an excuse for Americans to become aggressive imperialists.