Examples Of Westward Expansion

1018 Words5 Pages

According to Jefferson expansion was the key to america's health as his vision was that a republic depends on “an independent, virtuous citizenry for its survival”. One example of westward expansion was the Alamo. During the conflict at the Alamo, the Texans were attempting to gain independence from Mexico. Another example of Westward expansion was The Oregon Trail. Americans were naturally curious about the land west of them after receiving letters from the emigrants describing “really great land”. As a result, it became common knowledge among Americans that the people had a right to expand from “ sea To shining sea”. One example of progress toward westward expansion was the conflict at the Alamo. During the battle at the Alamo, the Texans …show more content…

The Louisiana purchase was a vital event leading to westward expansion. One cause of the Louisiana purchase was Thomas Jefferson couldn't buy the land directly from the French so he made a treaty saying that he could buy the land. This demonstrates the Louisiana Purchase being a right because it was a amendment in the constitution the Jefferson used. The French also were in the middle of a war with great Britain, which meant they needed money badly to supply food, pay the troops, and for more reasons. They needed money a lot more than territory on a different continent, however the constitution stated that he couldn't buy the land directly from other countries so he twisted the words of the constitution using an elastic clause. He then made a treaty with the French which was in the constitution but not in those words and the size of the United states tripled.However in this process he was worried about the french intentions so he sent James Monroe and Robert Livingston to France to negotiate.This was the Americans right because if he thought that the French were going to try something he has the right to protect his country. Another cause of the Louisiana purchase was Thomas Jefferson knew that it was vital for the Americans so when he saw his opportunity to get a great …show more content…

Americans were naturally curious about the land west of them after receiving letters from the emigrants describing “really great land”. “To get free land in the heavenly country where sickness was hardly ever known” also “ The emigrants sent letters back home describing the great land. This is showing that the oregon trail was the Americans right because there was only emigrants there meaning that it was unclaimed, and that the land was great meaning that it had excellent farming, it was free.and there was hardly ever any sicknesses. Another reason that people moved west on the Oregon trail was because of the discovery of gold. “After the discovery of gold in California in 1848, more prospectors set out on the Oregon Trail”.This was the Americans right because they had the freedom of speech to say that they wanted to travel to these areas in search of gold. Another reason that people went west on the Oregon Trail was because it was occupied by Mountain men and the emigrants from their country. “The most remote area explored by mountain men in the 1820’s and 1830’s was the Oregon Country”. Showing that it was far away from most people and the only people that were there were Mountain men. The Oregon trail was significant to the American people expanding from “sea to shining