How is the American missionary sense related to manifest destiny?

The American missionary sense, often characterized by the belief in spreading Christianity and American values, is closely related to the concept of Manifest Destiny, which held that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent. This intertwining of religious zeal and territorial ambition framed westward expansion as both a divine mission and a national imperative. Proponents believed that by spreading their values, they were fulfilling a moral obligation, thus justifying territorial conquests and the displacement of Indigenous peoples. Ultimately, this missionary impulse fueled a sense of entitlement and righteousness during the era of Manifest Destiny.