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How Did Westward Expansion Change Throughout The 19th Century

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America is known for its greatness. The drive of the American people and the desire to improve life. The Mexican War (1846 – 1848) was one driving factor towards Americas westward expansion. America endured major changes throughout the 19th century. Changes to include the continued population growth, changes to agricultural land and the development of states. The transcontinental railroad and the westward expansion of the 19th century was key in American development.
During the first colonization during the 17th century, settlers made their home along the east coast of North America. Establishing homes and farms along waterways such as rivers and the Atlantic Ocean. By the 1860’s, settlers had moved as far west as St. Louis, Missouri and as …show more content…

The population in North America grew 26.6% from the 1860’s. Shortly after the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, San Francisco grew to be the tenth largest city in the United States. Reaching a population of 149,473 people in the 1870’s. Growth and change continued east across North America with the east region of both North and South Dakota becoming a territory, the introduction of the 38th state, Colorado, and the development of four major cities; Buffalo, Louisville, Washington D.C and Newark. New York City remained the most populated location in the United States, with its number of residence growing to 942,292. Along with the westward development, the Transcendental Railroad fueled economic growth and began to change the industrial …show more content…

Territories including Nevada, Idaho, Washington, Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota. Agricultural land continued to grow across the American frontier and the Pacific. By the 1890’s, the US railroad system had gown, with railroad tracks crossing every state and territory in North America. The largest network growth being throughout the Frontier and the Pacific regions of North America. Americas population continued to grow, and with more settlers traveling west, Denver became a major city in the 1890’s. Other major cities that continued to grow throughout the 1890’s include Omaha, Kanas City, Minneapolis, and

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In the late 19th century there was a spike in Railroad Construction in the United States. The growth began as a result of congress passing the Pacific Railroad Bill in 1862 which began the construction of the Transcontinental Railroads. In the near future the Transcontinental Railroads would connect both sides of the United States, therefore they would eventually lead up to the settling of the west. Railroads in the late 19th century would affect the settling of the west by allowing people to travel to find work in an efficient manner, by allowing faster and more efficient methods to transport goods to consumers, and improving the economy overall. Starting off Railroads greatly impacted travel time from one place to another.

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There was a significant increase in population and migration in the West with the frontier settlement. Not only this but there was also a desire for more revenue for their families to be able to eat, and to also buy land. Railroads also had a huge influence in the United States development; it helped to connect the Central and Eastern part of United States to the West. With the Congressional appropriation of funds, many corporations agreed to build the railroad for the right of land in the West.

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As shown in Document 7, the extent of railroads in 1860 was much greater than that of the extent of railroads in 1850. This rapid development of railroads can be explained by the large numbers of immigrants that poured into America from 1850-1860. The first wave of immigration brought along mostly northern and western Europeans who came to America for all sorts of reasons. The Irish were most known for working on the expansion of railroads as they resided in large urban areas, where railroads would mostly meet. This expansion allowed for major cities to be connected with

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In the 1840s, the steamboat was a very common mode of transportation along the rivers of south-central states. This, of course, resulted in increased business on and around the rivers that run through America. Another transportation mode that was boosted by the expansion was the railway system, as significant numbers of Americans desired to move West. As the century progressed, the railroad system began to expand to help transport both people and large amounts of agriculture goods from place to place. Not only did the expansion of the agricultural industry boost America’s economy, the continuous Westward expansion attracted more Americans to travel and settle Westward; this resulted in further economic growth due to the nation’s expanding transportation networks, the building of new infrastructure, and the settlement of new towns and communities which relied on goods and services to

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The western area of the modern day United States remained largely unoccupied by American settlers for the first century of the country’s existence. The slow colonization was due to a variety of factors preventing successful, efficient, and safe occupation of the area. Likely one of the most influential factors was a simple logistical problem: traversing the continent prior to the advent of mechanized, overland transportation was extremely difficult, if not dangerous. This was not the only issue affecting would-be western settlers, but it was the first necessary challenge to overcome before any consideration of establishing a homestead. The development of a railroad network was the most important limiting factor in western settlement, and the

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Transcontinental Railroad Tera Richardson, 4336787 History 102 B008 Sum 17 Professor Traci Sumner American Military University July 22, 2017 Abstract The transcontinental railroad was one of the biggest advocates for the industrial economy and westward expansion. The railroads could transfer goods and people across the country with ease, and quickly. While some bad came from this miraculous progression, such as the panic of 1873 and a yellow fever epidemic, the good outweighed the bad as it enabled the United States to fulfill its Manifest Destiny through westward expansion.

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Traveling thousands of miles through dangerous paths American pioneers took on hardships as they sought westward in hopes of a better life. The journey westward began in the early 1800s when the US exploded with new territories nearly tripling the United States' size. It all started in 1803 when the US bought the Louisiana Territory from France. Quickly, many farmers picked up their belongings and headed out west to the rich, fertile land for a fresh start. Next, Andrew Jackson invaded Florida claiming it for the US which was also another opportunity for settlers to begin a new life.

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Moreover the growth of railroads made it possible for the establishment of business organizations across America because people were much more closer and urbanization played a huge role in making many people and cooperation’s to create and expand their businesses throughout the country making them well known to the public and also help create employment opportunities in the places where businesses where

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After the Civil War, the United States began to expand Westward. Much of this expansion was due to the transportation revolution. Railroads were spreading; roads, canals, and steamboats were improving. Allowing for more ways to travel West. As the country entered the Industrial Revolution, not only were people migrating within the country but immigrants began to emigrate to America.

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This was needed so people would be able to know when their train was coming and going and so trains could stop crashing (Daniel K. Boorstin). The transcontinental railroad began developing in 1862 which was a connection of railroads that connected the union pacific to the central pacific and met up in Utah. These were the results of the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 (Pacific Railway Act). The third way the west was able to develop was through its new opportunities that resulted from it.

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Overall, the closing of the frontier was a turning point in American history, marking the end of one era and the beginning of another. By transforming the economy and society, it laid the groundwork for the United States to become the global superpower it is today. During the period between 1865 and 1898, one additional factor that shaped American culture and character was the westward expansion and settlement of the frontier. The promise of land, opportunities for economic growth, and the idea of Manifest Destiny drove Americans to venture beyond the Mississippi River and into the

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“In 1820, about 58 towns more than 2500 inhabitants; by 1840, there were 126 such towns, located mostly in the Midwest and Northeast.” The fastest growth occurring in areas were near canals, railroads, and roads because of the easy access of raw and manufactured materials. Toward the later 19th century, the settlers began to move west for cheaper property because the land inhabited near the town built around transportation was getting

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The Tremendous Impact of Railroads on America In the late 19th century, railroads propelled America into an era of unprecedented growth, prosperity, and convenient transportation. Prior to the building of the railroads, America lacked the proper and rapid transportation to make traveling across the country economical or practical. Lengthy travel was often cumbersome, costly, and dangerous.

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For some, it was destiny to move west. Although there were many conflicts and disagreements between ourselves and others, it was destiny to move west because of overpopulation, new inventions of transportation methods, and new opportunities. In the 19th Century, overpopulation was one of the major reasons for Westward Expansion. Immigrants were flooding into America for new opportunities and new ways of life and there was just not enough land to suffice the needs for all of the people. These immigrants were arriving in America in the port cities on the East Coast.

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There were several different types of cities emerging during the first part of the nineteenth century. There were commercial cities, industrial cities/urban cities, and internal cities. The commercial cities were regional hubs for shipments of goods to and from America. Industrial cities were urban cities that had ports for shipping, they also were where the immigrants came into as these were the centers for immigration. The smaller cities were the internal cities that were where farmers would go to ship and sell their goods.

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