The Causes And Impacts Of Westward Expansion In America

The Westward expansion began for the United States with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. For $15 million dollars, President Thomas Jefferson purchased from France 828,000 square miles, including most of 14 current states, thus doubling the size of America. Jefferson now had the land, but how to populate it was another story. On a three year expedition, Lewis and Clark were sent by Jefferson to explore the lands to get a better understanding of the geography and resources of the West. During the 1830s to 1840s, to promote further territory expansion, the “manifest destiny” came into play – which was the idea that America was destined to expand across the entire country westward. Quickly, the nation expanded.

The native population declined and their well being was not a priority. The US settlers became obsessed with this notion of westward expansion even if it meant that natives were going to be mistreated and oppressed. The creation of the railroad was the final nail in the coffin to the natives’ fate. The railroad allowed easy access and transportation to the new land. As stated in the text, “… Between 1790-1840, some 4.5 million people crossed the Appalachian Mountains – more than the entire U.S population at the time of Washington’s first inauguration.” (Pg. 336) This shows the dramatic increase in population and demand for westward expansion. Since natives occupied the land that was needed for building such infrastructure, the European settlers

A positive humanitarian effect of westward expansion is that it increased a sense of patriotism. Although the treatment of the Native Americans was indeed in humane but during the times, the thought process was different. Many people agreed that Manifest destiny was justified because of the growing population and also it was a god given right. In addition, the white settler believed that it was their duty to help the Native Americans. This brought people together to set out on missions to do what they believe what they think is right. On the contrary, seeing the inhumane treatment of the Native Americans allowed more people to speak up and take a stand.The wars between the Native Americans and settlers could have potentially showed the any side the repercussions of violence bringing people together to find more convenient solutions. The idea of Manifest Destiny and movement of Westward expansion hit the Native American hard. As the movement westward increased, the discovery of gold on native American lands resulted in the

In the eyes of the government, the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 was 2,000 miles of opportunity ready to be seized. Westward expansion started with the idea of Manifest Destiny coined by John L. O’Sullivan in 1845. This was the encouragement of citizens to start a new life in the west, with the hope of acquiring land. Despite this encouragement by the government, the land was occupied by Native Americans who were not willing to give up their land without a fight. The government knew of their existence from the previous expedition of Lewis and Clark, but still encouraged western expansion. This decision resulted in conflicts between the United States and Indians which lasted decades. The difficulties included the environment, developing industries, and conflicts with Native Americans.The environment and the Native Americans had minimal effects on the west, but the industries such as mining and cattle had significant impacts on the settlement west of the Mississippi.

The westward expansion saw the emergence of major cities, railway networks, more interactions and improved agriculture which kept on improving in the 1800s. In the interactive map helped me realized a few important things. For instance. there are several ways through which the United States experienced a huge growth during the 1860–1890 westward expansion. Increased population, development of railroads, as well as large-scale agriculture are amongst the decades' major achievements as indicated on the decade base maps. Furthermore, the map showed as some of the natural barriers that prevented growth as well as the indigenous populations which existed prior the expansion (Billington, Allen, and Martin 2001, 201).

Westward expansions of the united states molded and affected the nations advancement socially, politically and economically holding quick to its connections to agriculture, its relations with and through slavery with the westward expansion therefore there would not be an abolishment movement and the women would not have been there to find against it. Although the Indian removal has helped shape the westward expansion politically and economically because it has given America more land and cotton. The Mexican war shaped the western expansion culturally and politically because the Mexican were racially religiously superior.

Westward Expansion started with President Thomas Jefferson made the Louisiana Purchase from the French for only fifteen million dollars. This allowed landless families to migrate from where they currently were to a new place with fresh lands to claim. This had a few effects such as increasing the size of the country, while providing land and means for income to families. During the course of westward expansion the size of the United States took a drastic population increase, with the overall population going from five million to seventy-six million. This set the U.S. on the fast track to expand out to the west coast. Abraham Lincoln signed in to law the Homestead Act, which gave people willing to

I mostly agree with this statement because westward expansion caused the most tension politically, economically and territorially between the northern and southern states due to the balance of power. However, it could be argued that the north and south's views on slavery was a more significant cause the civil war.

Westward expansion effected the Native Americans because the Indians lived in these areas. First, the pioneers started to kill the bison, the Indian’s main food source, which lessened the amount of bison in the area causing hunger in Native American tribes ("Buffalo Hunters in the Old West." Buffalo Hunters in the Old West, 2015). Next, they moved into the Native’s lands to build houses and farms. Searching for gold was another problem, because the gold miners would search in their sacred hills, disturbing peace between the two. ("America Indians and Western Expansion,”

Throughout history, many debates have occurred over national events. Whether it be the Civil War or the robotic revolution, each event leaves behind a mark on our history, changing our nation. In addition, these events also spark controversy among the American people. One of these moments that many people look back on with either support or opposition is the western expansion of the United States. This topic of the United States expansion was a highly controversial topic among people.

Upon the end of the Civil war, the United States found itself picking up the pieces of a devastated nation. Many viewed Westward expansion as a unifying mechanism for the North and the South, establishing a new hope for prosperity. In a post war semi unstable democracy, new political conflicts arose, including the future of the Native American people, the cultivation of new lands, how to assimilate those who stood in the way of the impending construction of railroads. Despite the war over the abolition of slavery ending, new racial politics and different ideas in regards to the Native American communities initiated two clashing agendas. A nation who sought unification could not have been more divided than it was during the civil war in regards to what to do with newly freed slaves. A combination of the Homestead Act and various Indian Policies, created a lose-lose situations amongst the Natives. In a heartfelt plea of understanding

The westward expansion of America involves many events that are important to history as a whole. It took place during the Age of Imperialism which began during the nineteenth and twentieth century. Westward expansion was a major event that took place throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. In the early half of the nineteenth century, the westward movement arose numerous issues involving social class, gender roles, and slavery by both political and social means.

The late 1800’s were a booming time for the United States. Reconstruction had ended and Westward Expansion was on the rise. People from all over the U.S. were moving west and claiming land and many groups from across the world made their way to the United States to find new opportunity and to escape oppression. This led to a huge growth in diversity in the United State and helped make a major impact on what we consider to be the modern united states. Everything from the economy to social groups were affected by this and this led to some interesting outcomes in our country. Diversity in the West impacted the development in the United States by helping grow and expand our economy, creating new social groups, and bringing new laws and

The American Westward Expansion has been the main factor in shaping American history. During the 19th century period of American expansion, many Americans felt that the United States should expand their territories from the Appalachian Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. The Manifest Destiny, which is a term for the attitude prevalent during westward expansion in the early 1800’s and the thought that the United States should control all of North America, spread out the country, and many Americans believed that God himself blessed the growth of the America. Even though the American Westward Expansion is the basis of American history, how did the westward expansion change and impact American nation?

Over the past centuries a few, small colonies became a thriving nation brimmed with promises of wealth and freedom. These aspects brought immigrants from around the world, all wanting a part of the American culture. The United States grew drastically and new land became available over time. This surge in population created the Manifest Destiny, the belief of expansion from sea to sea. The United States’ westward expansion was a wicked, but vital component during the 1800s that allowed the nation to exercise its power and prosper economically at the price of unfair manipulation towards Native Americans as well as a cruel game of tug of war with the lives of slaves.