c) John L. O’Sullivan

John L. O’Sullivan, a newspaper editor, coined the term “Manifest Destiny” in 1845, encapsulating a widespread belief in the United States’ divine right to expand westward. This ideology was rooted in a sense of American exceptionalism and the perceived destiny to spread democracy and capitalism. It justified the westward expansion, often at the cost of displacing Native Americans and escalating tensions with other nations. Manifest Destiny became a defining concept of the 19th century, shaping U.S. policy and playing a key role in events like the Texas Annexation and the Mexican-American War.