Manifest destiny. ~ Historical Catchphrase [13015]

The concept of "manifest destiny" had been around for many years before it was coined into a phrase by John L. O'Sullivan in 1845. The basic idea was that the United States of America was destined to occupy the land from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Through the years the concept was met with much political debate. Even today, the moral and ethical justifications for American expansionism, or imperialism as some would say, are hotly contested.

The first video that comes from the Shawnee Indian Mission State Historic Site, gives a good understanding of the subject:

The second video is a selected piece from the TV program All In The Family. It takes a comical approach to show both sides of the modern debate.