Examples Of Pro-Expansion Dbq

During the period spanning from 1800 to 1855, there were many arguments made in the ever-present debate regarding the possibility of the territorial expansion of the United States. The two arguments, pro-expansion and anti-expansion, were seen in debates over the Louisiana Purchase, the War of 1812, the removal of Indians from their territories, possible trade routes through expansion, and the Mexican-American War. These arguments made in the debate are seen in documents A, B, C, D, F, G, H, and I. The documents not only show the opinions of the people, but also the effect they had on the government. Pro-expansion sentiments were shown through debates concerning the War of 1812, the removal of Indians from their villages, possible

The graph shows how Southern, rural voters were pro-war, due to their want for more land capable of being cultivated for crops. As the South could possibly gain land from the war, which they did through Spain, they were pro-war, as being pro-war meant the expansion of US territory. As for pro-war sentiments being expressed in relation to the removal of Indians from their territories, they are seen in documents C and D. Document C depicts writing stating that the United States needed to send people to civilize the Indians where the British, who had previously been allied with the Indians, had failed. As for Document D, it shows routes through which Indians were forced from their homes onto reservations further west through the Indian Removal Act. Both of these documents show how the US, in their greed for land, pushed Indians west, either through compromise or military force, in order to gain control over more land. This removal, however, would not be enough for the United States, and soon the Indians would be pushed further west, again and again, until there was nowhere to push them, as the United States had run out of land to conquer. Indian removal was necessary for the United States to have total control

By expanding to the west coast, Oregon specifically, the United States hoped to begin trade with Asian countries. As tensions increased in Texas, mainly over what territory had control over Texas, war was becoming more and more likely. documents G and H both touch on the subject of the Mexican-American War, with Document G being created before the war was declared, and Document H being proposed after the war ended. Document G showed how the United State’s main goal in the impending Mexican-American War was the acquisition of new territory, Texas in particular. This acquisition was proposed in a positive light after it was stated that the territory of Texas was, “...free land of ours the means to spread the light of the Gospel… (Document G).” This view, that the expansion of Christianity, or the civilizing of the uncivilized, was necessary in creating a more perfect world, a world in which the United States held control from the east to the west. As for Document H, which states arguments made after the war was concluded, Calhoun expressed his views that