Ever since the first European settlers arrived on the east coast of North America, a sense of divine mission---which came to be called "manifest destiny"---prevailed. It was the belief that
America's mission was to occupy the continent and spread democracy across the land. In fewer than 100 years, the United States grew from a union of 13 colonies to a continental power that
stretched from the Atlantic to the Pacific. In the next 30 years, the United States became a world power. American territorial expansion is over, but ever since the end of World War II, the
American version of the English language, together with American culture, has been steadily spreading around the world.
Each title in the Key Concepts in American History set is a three-part examination of an important theme in U.S. history. With an essay that provides an overview of the concept, alphabetical
entries on events and people pertaining to the concept, and a "Viewpoints" section of primary source documents, these easy-to-read encyclopedias are ideal for middle and high school classrooms.
