Westward Expansion Research Paper

Prompt: Using information you gathered from a variety of texts, write a letter from the chosen group’s point of view, stating their opinion of Westward Expansion by answering the question, “Was Westward Expansion worth it?” Quote evidence from the text to support your claim.

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.

The westward expansion was caused by the idea that America should expand to the west to spread democracy and civilization called manifest destiny. During the westward expansion the following was gained: the Louisiana Purchase (bought from France for 15 million), Texas Annexation (rebellion from Mexico), Mexican Cession (went to war with Mexico and bought for 15 million dollars), Florida Cession (received from Spain), the Gadsden Purchase (bought from Mexico for 10 million to finish the transcontinental railroad), and the Oregon Treaty (treaty with Britain). Document B shows that there was a massive boom in voters (225%) from 1824 to 1828 due to the universal white suffrage allowing the common man to vote, and it steadily rose every four years from an original 356,038 in 1824 to 2,411,187 in 1840 as immigrants (new and old) and the common man could now vote. The biggest increase in voters by sheer numbers is from 1836 to 1840 it increased by 912,509 voters, more than any other increase allowing the common man to have even more political influence and power. Document E shows that population in the west boomed from 1810 (773,902) to 1840 (5,169,292) with an increase of 4,395,390 people of which the majority were common men giving them power in the political world. Compared to the slow growth of the south (+606,922) and steady growth of the north (+3,408,530) the west and in turn

In the early to mid 1800s, Americans began to want to expand the country again. Some Americans did not agree with the idea of expansion, and wanted to remain complacent with the amount of territory that they currently owned. The nation was torn. There were supporters and opponents of the idea of expansion. Each side presented their points but we eventually ended up expanding.

All throughout American history, growth, whether positive or negative, has been a repeating occurrence. This has shown up during the Civil War times, the Westward Expansion, and throughout immigration. Based on perspective, as one group progresses from a change, trials and turmoil have been created for another group from the same change. Since growth is so often defined subjectively based on the interests of the American people, the trials that come from growth outweigh the positives when the ideas of these individual group’s clash, and their values are at odds. Beginning in 1619, the act of owning a slave became a popular practice in American colonies throughout American history.

The years between 1803 and 1850 were called The Westward Expansion Era. During this time the practice of slavery was getting more popular. Also, as white settlers continued to move west, Native Americans were being forced off their land. The phrase, “all men are created equal,” did not apply to the subgroups/ minorities during the Western Expansion Era because of racial prejudice toward African-Americans even in northern states and white settlers destroying Native American culture. Even in northern states, racial prejudice directed towards African-Americans was a significant problem.

This text is a sampling of times, places, and people of the Westward Expansion. A teacher teaching the Westward Expansion will find historical images and stories behind the historical times and the sheet music that correlates to the topics. This cross-curricular resource allows for the stories to be read and the pictures to study, and ultimately the music to be incorporated into the classroom learning. Ultimately this book can be utilized to bring adventure, danger, dreams, and the realities of American life during the Westward Expansion to come alive for students. This will make history fun for all students, allowing students to build more of a connection to the past. This is another great resource but because I don’t teach Western Expansion

How do you see progress, as a process that is beneficial or in contrast, that it´s a hurtful process that everyone at one point of their lives has to pass through it? At the time, progress was beneficial for the United States, but those benefits came with a cost, such cost that instead of advancements and developments being advantageous factors for humanity, it also became a harmful process in which numerous people were affected in many facets of life. This all means that progress is awsome to achieve, but when achieved, people have to realize the process they had to do to achieve it, which was stepping on other people to get there.

Westward expansion was a new thing and time in our country and had many impacts on the American people and ways of life. The government made it available to buy a lot more of land in the West. Our government gave opportunities for people to move west for a better life or more land in the west. The government gave opportunities like the homestead act where the government would give families 160 acres of land if they moved west at the time this deal was going on. This act was signed into law by President Lincoln in 1862. People moved west for any opportunity they could. People moved for a new life, more land, and more opportunities in

Westward expansion between 1800 and 1860 affected American culture in a few ways. One effect was that it enabled American ventures to develop and thrive. As Americans moved westward, they required items so as to live in the west. In this way, organizations moved toward the west and started to make the items that the general population required. “Around 1776, capable individuals in the American colonies whom we know as the Founding Fathers found that, by making the possibility of a country with its own particular culture and images, they reinforced their own particular administration and took control from British colonial rulers.” Their discovery was splendid: they made.”The most effective system of national control devised in modern times. The local American authority was getting to be plainly disappointed with British initiative. After

The Westward Expansion has often been regarded as the central theme of American history, down to the end of the19th century and as the main factor in the shaping of American history. As Frederick Jackson Turner says, the greatest force or influence in shaping American democracy and society had been that there was so much free land in America and this profoundly affected American society. Motives After the revolution, the winning of independence opened up the Western country and was hence followed by a steady flow of settlers to the Mississippi valley. By 1840, 10 new western states had been added to the Federal union. The frontier line ran through Iowa, Missouri and Arkansas on the western side

Prior to the 1800s, US expansion had been accepted by the government in the thirteen colonies. Despite the government's favor for territorial expansion, the controversy was spread throughout the 13 colonies on the idea of expansion. An American who influenced expansion in America, John O’ Sullivan, conjectured that territorial expansion was destined and it was god’s given right to expand America coast to coast, or in this case into westward territories. This thought was defined as Manifest Destiny and aided the fuel of western settlement, Native American Removal and war with Mexico. Many Americans did, however, oppose expansion and war causing, but their inputs didn’t change the idea of expansion. During the period of 1800-1855, America’s idea to expand territory succeeded in events such as the Louisiana Purchase (1803) and the Indian Removal Act. These events certainly satisfied proponents of expansion and influenced America's westward expansion. Despite these achievements, opponents of expansions opposed because of events like the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American war. America’s shape today is indeed based on these beliefs of expanding America.

4. As it doubled the land area of the U.S., it also increased goods, services and wealth.

Westward expansion was a key component that shaped the United States not only geographically, but economically as well. The first sign of any expansion West from the original states was when Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana Purchase from France in 1803. The country was in need of new land in order to accommodate for the expanding population. Once the country started to expand, its power soon followed. The nation had a struggle with expanding because of the Native Americans already living in the West, but that didn’t stop the people of the United States. Overall, American expansion, during 1803-1860, transformed the West and affected the Native Americans because of Manifest Destiny, Indian Removal and the advancement

Westward expansion was a time of successes and failures, a time celebrations and grief, a time full of life and death but in the end it shaped how America is the way is today. Westward expansion was put in action because of the belief of Manifest Destiny, the belief that it is America fate to expand from the Atlantic to Pacific ocean. The economical, political and humanitarians impacts were necessary to achieve the goal of manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion.