Events Of Westward Expansion

Merriam-Webster defines the word opportunity as, ‘a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something’. People living in nineteenth century America were searching for an opportunity, and a chance to better their lives. People in this time period needed the resources such as land and the raw materials in order to achieve their goals and improve their current situations. Between the years 1803 and 1853, the United States nearly tripled in size. Westward expansion allowed the United States to acquire more land for settlers to take advantage of. Three specific events of Westward Expansion allowed the United States to grow immensely: the Louisiana Purchase, Texas Annexation, and Mexican Cession. As the United States land increased due

This deal involved the purchase of land west of Mississippi and offered great opportunity for American citizens that seeked to start a new life. With the 827,000 miles of land that the United States acquired from France in 1803, thousands of Americans were able to move into this new land. They were able to grow crops, and earn money which contributed to the start of a new life and new opportunities. In addition, the Louisiana Purchase was extremely important for the trade of imports and exports, which led to an increase in individual and the country’s wealth. As the United States expanded westward, access to the New Orleans port and the navigation of the Mississippi River were key to American commerce. Both, the New Orleans port and the Mississippi River were extremely beneficial because they both allowed for easier trade around the United States. These trading routes led to improvement in the economy all over the United States. The Louisiana Purchase was not the only event that gave Americans more opportunities, the Annexation of Texas also led to more American control of land in the

Texas was originally part of Mexico, but separated and broke away through a rebellion in 1836. The annexation of Texas allowed for people to settle in the new land and rebuild their lives. These Americans saw this newly obtained territory as an opportunity to buy cheap land and property to grow crops, and improve their previous living conditions. As the United States acquired this region of Texas as its own, a cotton and slave based economy was started. This economy, made the opportunity for many expansive, family-owned farms to be created. With more land, more cotton was able to be grown with the help of the growing slave population, and therefore many reached financial success and improvement. By 1845, there was an estimated population of 200,000 people, 58,000 or 27 percent being slaves. The slave count continued to increase faster than the population as a whole. Slavery certainly promoted development of agricultural economy. Slave labor provided for a 600 percent increase in cotton production during the 1850s, further improving the economy. Slavery is extremely controversial but certainly, and non-debatably helped for economic success in the newly obtained land of Texas. This new land from the annexation of Texas brought even more opportunities for the American people. This taste of