Isaiah King Was it Destiny to Move West? Hon. U.S History Destiny is neither justified, nor inevitable, but rather a phrase created by man, to defend the perception of what is “meant to be” in their own lives. This is especially true during the time of Westward Expansion in the United States, in the 1800’s. As Westward Expansion continued to grow and expand, the phrase, “Manifest Destiny” became widely popular among all immigrants. John L. O’Sullivan first employed the term in a newspaper