Manifest Destiny Manifest Destiny reflected the desire to grow and expand quickly. It also demonstrated the idealistic vision of social perfection that fueled so much of the reform energy of the time. All this rested on the idea that America was destined-by god and by history- to expand its boundaries over a vast area. The idea of Manifest Destiny had spread throughout the nation in the 1840's. It was heavily publicized by the new "penny …showed first 75 words of 487 total…

…showed last 75 words of 487 total…the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo the United States acquired the states of California and New Mexico. This cost the U.S. a total of $15 million and was a result of the Mexican War in 1846. The final acquisition took place in 1853. The Gadsen Purchase allotted the U.S. a strip of Arizona and New Mexico. This land, which was purchased from Mexico for $15 million, was greatly needed for a transcontinental railroad. This final acquisition completed manifest destiny.