Definitions

Manifest Destiny was a term used in the 1840s to justify the United States' westward expansion into such areas as Texas, Oregon, and California. There was a widely held underlying belief that Americans, the "chosen people," had a divinely inspired mission to spread the fruits of their democracy to the less fortunate (usually meaning Native Americans and other non-Europeans).
 * Manifest Destiny:**

The idea of an almost religious Manifest Destiny was a common staple in the speeches and newspaper articles of the time. Most of the exponents of expansion were Democrats, but some Whigs (and later Republicans) were also supporters.

Manifest Destiny was later applied to American interests in the Caribbean and the Pacific, sharing much with the practice of imperialism.

Mexican Cession of 1848 was the ceding of New Mexico and Alta California to the United States by Mexico as a result of the U.S. victory in the Mexican War. The regions America seized from Mexico was originally Mexican territory. However, America wanted to expand their territory, and crossed over to Mexico’s and tried to negotiate. Nevertheless, Mexico didn’t agree and it led to a war—Mexican War. U.S. won the war and thus seized those territories or in other words, Mexico was coerced to cede. As a result, the Mexican Cession completed the Manifest Destiny.
 * Mexican Cession:**

As U.S. urged their Manifest Destiny and justified their expansion, the Mexican Cession aided to fulfill their Desiny. Therefore, U.S. was able to annex Mexico and make them to their states.
 * Mexico Annexation**

Just for heads up!

Louisiana Purchase, 1803, American acquisition from France of the formerly Spanish region of Louisiana.

Virgin Islands The Virgin Islands, consisting of nine main islands and some 75 islets, were explored by Columbus in 1493. They were originally inhabited by the Carib Indians. Since 1666, England has held six of the main islandsCongress granted U.S. citizenship to Virgin Islanders in 1927. Universal suffrage was given in 1936 to all persons who could read and write English.

Gadsden Purchase, strip of land purchased (1853) by the United States from Mexico. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) had described the U.S.-Mexico boundary vaguely, and President Pierce wanted to insure U.S. possession of the Mesilla Valley near the Rio Grande—the most practicable route for a southern railroad to the Pacific. James Gadsden negotiated the purchase, and the U.S. Senate ratified (1854) it by a narrow margin. The area of c.30,000 sq mi (77,700 sq km), purchased for $10 million, now forms extreme S New Mexico and Arizona S of the Gila.  Trust Territory of Pacific Islands: a U.S. trust territory in the Pacific Ocean, comprising the Mariana, Marshall and Caroline Islands: approved by the United Nations 1947; since 1976 constituents of the trusteeship have established or moved toward self-government.  Panama Canal Zone, former territory within Panama, 553 sq mi, that was administered by the United States under a 1903 treaty (with later amendments) with Panama. The zone included the Panama Canal and an area extending 5 mi on each side. Under the terms of a later treaty (1977), the zone was abolished in October, 1979, and returned to Panamanian rule; the canal itself was ceded to Panama in 1999.

Northern Mariana Islands : The Northern Mariana Islands, east of the Philippines and south of Japan, include the islands of Rota, Saipan, Tinian, Pagan, Guguan, Agrihan, and Aguijan. Although sighted by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 as he sailed for Spain, the islands were not settled by Europeans until 1668, when missionaries converted the indigenous Chamorro people to Catholicism. They were ruled successively by Spain, Germany, and Japan before they became a UN Trusteeship (administered by the U.S.) after World War II. The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands became part of the United States in Nov. 1986. Spanish cultural traditions remain strong.