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Manifest Destiny: The Effects of Westward Expansion 3.797 million miles. That is the area of the United States of America. Within two years, from 1846 too 1848, more than one million square miles of territory was gained by the US. This time of immense growth was called Manifest Destiny. This term was first used by John L. Sullivan and was the idea that Americans had the God given right to govern the USA.
The expansion of the West territory fulfilled the US to become the ocean nation between Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean completely. Another identity bringing the US to change is “Gold discovery,” even if it was nine days before the treaty with Mexico in 1848, this discovery significant altered the US to the modern era. Based on above situations, the industrialization and the growth of the US began. It transformed the US society from rural to urban. The federal government offered the land distribution for agriculture, mining, and organizing settlers around many areas.
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
In 1862, Congress passed the Homestead Act in the Great Plains, which allowed the poor to have a chance to own land. During this time, the Civil War was still in action and more people started moving West. First, the Homestead Act and promotion by railroads brought more farmers into the West, which meant more food for the growing population of America and the cultivation of the West. Although this was helpful for the nation, it was less effective than the railroads for the selling of crops because farmers could have a bad harvest or not be able to get crops to the market on time.
The people who settled the west were greatly dependent on the US government and the policies they adopted. The settling of the west in the late 19th century was similar to the settlement of the south in the 1830’s. Andrew Jackson drove out the indians so that the valuable land of the south could be secured by white settlers. Once again, the federal government made it possible to settle the west by forcing indians off of their lands. A recurring theme in American history is manifest destiny and the attempt to develop unsettled lands by the federal government.
Westward Expansion Document-Based Question Essay During the mid-1800s there was a large movement for Americans who lived on the East coast to move westward. This caused hardships to the movers to the west, as well as the Native Americans and the Land. The settlers thrived from Westward Expansion, but they unfairly took everything away from the people and the animals who were there before. The movement was mainly started by large deposits of gold found in western areas which made many people want to try and find gold for themselves.
The west started to become more popularized by Americans during the nineteenth century. Settlers in New England started to move westward because the soil of New England was not able to produce high amounts of grain. As a result, the farmers would set out to find a new piece of land to grow their crops on. The farmer’s lively hood as well as their families relied on land to produce the resources their family needed to live. However, most of the land settlers began to occupy was already the home to Native Americans.
From 1800 to 1850, America experienced a lot of geography, population, and capita growth. For one, the geographic size not only doubled, but triple because of the introduction of 4 million slaves and 2 million immigrants. Additionally, in the thirty-one of the states, fifteen of which were acquired in the last 50 years, the capita per home had doubled. The eastern United States was growing in number, and to accommodate new life, people began to move west. Accompanied by the technological innovations of the day people were now able to experience much more when they were outside of their small towns.
Population boomed because of immigrant going for the open land and americans reproducing like crazy after the war. During the western expansion Americans justified the things they did as something that god would want, like going westward. Some americans did stuff like kick natives off their land and fooled them into selling their land cheaper than it actually was. Manifest destiny went in the favor of white people and against natives and african americans. Manifest destiny helped americans have a reason to go west which resulted in more people getting land which caused war.
Hundreds of years ago many people of different ethnicities immigrated to the west in hopes of finding a better life. The journey brung its consequences and every choice made affects the chances of survival. Multiple issues also played a role in the development of western territory. The desire to expand towards the west was called Manifest Destiny - the dream to have the country expand all the way to the Pacific Ocean. The Louisiana purchase began the period of westward expansion.
History is a complicated and controversial subject. Robert Morgan makes that point clear throughout his article titled “There Is No True History of the Westward Expansion.” Many people associate history with a few well known names or faces, but they don’t realize that there are hundreds of thousands, even millions of other less prominent characters. This point is evident when discussing the topic of westward expansion. Thomas Jefferson, Meriwether Lewis, and William Clark are three big names that come to mind when thinking about the westward expansion of the United States.
Which groups in America and abroad were most affected by the continental and overseas geographic expansion of the United States in the 19th and 20th century? Why? How so? Ans:
America was focused on westward expansion throughout the 1800s. The Northwest and Southwest territories were sought out by America for many different reasons. The Oregon Trail allowed for people to go and find wealth in the West and safe travel through it. Conflicts with Mexico might not make it sound like we were going to gain land, but we indeed did get the land that would complete America. All of these things caused America to move in a westward fashion.
Ever since the Pilgrims and Europeans first landed in America, westward expansion has been a goal of the common people. All groups of people have wanted to move westward to spread religions, establish new colonies, and claim better and more valuable resources. This began primarily in 1845 when president James K. Polk proposed to Congress that we begin expanding westward and coined the term “Manifest Destiny.” After Polk’s proposal, people began to feel the urge to move westward and settle the land for the betterment of the United States. However, it was the actions of the U.S. military against the Native Americans in their western homelands and the establishment of the Homestead Act in 1862 that sparked the massive internal migration movements in the United States.
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.
