Expansion Critical Vocabulary

The term for the popular idea that America was meant to expand from the Atlantic Ocean all the way to the Pacific.

• Manifest Destiny

• colonialism

• exceptionalism

• territory

The idea that America is somehow a unique and superior country compared to all others.

• secession

• American Exceptionalism

• Manifest Destiny

• acquisition

Gaining partial or full control over another country or part of a country

• colonialism

• exceptionalism

• exploration

• homestead

the formal giving up of rights or land (usually from one government or state to another)

• Manifest Destiny

• colonialism

• territory

• cession

an area of land under control of a government, usually an organized part of a nation without full rights of statehood

• homestead

• exceptionalism

• cession

• territory

to gain ownership of a tract of land by living on it and improving it for a certain period of time

• colonialism

• homestead

• territory

• Manifest Destiny

the practice of continually expanding a country's political influence through land growth, military force, or diplomacy

• cession

• imperialism

• exceptionalism

• exploration