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How Did The Lewis And Clark Influence Westward Expansion

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Two of the most pivotal events in the history of the United States are the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the California Gold Rush. They significantly influenced the Westward Expansion between 1800 and 1848 (Kunkel, 2022). The Lewis and Clark Expedition was initiated by President Thomas Jefferson in 1804 to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Territory and find a practical route to the Pacific Ocean. This expedition provided valuable cultural, scientific, and geographic insights into the largely unknown western territories. It also established relationships with native American tribes, documented the diverse flora and fauna, and mapped the region, thus paving the way for future traders and settlers. The California Gold Rush marked the surge in westward migration in 1884.In such a fortune or goal discovered in Sutters Mill, …show more content…

The Lewis and Clark expedition laid the foundation for the understanding and exploration of the western territories. The gold rush prompted an immediate and massive movement of people. This even caused the integration of the West into the United States, economic development, and rapid settlement. The gold rush's influence on economic activities, population growth, and migration patterns had a more transformative and direct effect on the West's demography and landscape than Lewis and Clark's exploratory mission. The ideology of manifest destiny had a crucial role in shaping the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the California Gold Rush. The ideology that the United States was supposed to expand through destiny justifies its westward expansion. This ideology for the Lewis and Clark expedition showed or underscored Jefferson's vision of an "Empire of Liberty" stretching from coast to coast. The expedition was seen as the means to assert American sovereignty, spread civilization across the continent, and promote

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