A Level History - America - Practice Exam

Which ideology was NOT a feature of Manifest Destiny?

1. God-given right to expand

2. Racial superiority of white Americans

3. Promotion of socialism and collective ownership

4. Exceptionalism of American individualism

The correct answer is: Promotion of socialism and collective ownership

The correct answer is that the promotion of socialism and collective ownership was not a feature of Manifest Destiny. Manifest Destiny was fundamentally rooted in the belief that Americans had a divine mandate to expand across the North American continent. This ideology emphasized individualism and capitalism, defining American exceptionalism as the idea that the United States was unique and had a special role to play in the world, often linked to a belief in the superiority of American values and governance. In contrast, socialism and collective ownership entail a system where property and resources are owned collectively by the community or state, which runs counter to the principles underlying Manifest Destiny. The movement predominantly favored individual land ownership and economic freedom, reinforcing the ideals of capitalism rather than socialism. Other ideologies associated with Manifest Destiny include the belief in a God-given right to expand and a perceived racial superiority among white Americans, which justified the displacement of Native American populations and the annexation of territories.