Positive Effects Of Westward Expansion On The Culture Of Native Americans

One night in 1890, the Sioux were performing their native ritual, the Ghost Dance. Out of nowhere a group of American soldiers destroyed the Sioux’s peace by opening fire in the middle of this ritual and brutally murdering dozens of innocent Sioux members. This bloody massacre happened because of Westward Expansion. When Thomas Jefferson bought Louisiana territory from the French government for $18 million, it started the United States on this path toward expansion. The Louisiana Purchase spread from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains and from Canada to New Orleans. It doubled the size of the United States. In 1840, seven million people lived in the West searching for economic opportunities. John O’Sullivan, in describing this Westward

While Westward Expansion destroyed the culture of Native Americans, it also had many positive effects. One positive effect was the job opportunities and ideas gained from the Oregon Trail. The Oregon trail was a highly beneficial way to get through the mountains to the western part of the U.S. Although many people died on the Oregon Trail, it helped Americans get the supplies they needed from the West. Another positive impact from westward expansion was the California gold rush, which created more jobs for people in the West. Some of those jobs include gold mining, and other jobs in highly populated cities. Yet another positive impact from Westward Expansion was all of the land the U.S gained. The U.S gained one-third of its land just from Westward Expansion. The U.S also gained part of ten states from the Mexican Cession. The last positive impact from Westward Expansion was the technological advancements that were made. There were many inventions that were made such as the steel plow, windmills, and the mechanical reaper. The steel plow was used break through the hard topsoil of the western plains. Windmills were used to get water out from underground for people with little access to water. The mechanical reaper reduced farm labor and increased the production of wheat and other plants (Allison 149). Westward Expansion had many positive effects such as job opportunities from the Oregon trail and the California Gold Rush, and all of the land that the U.S gained during Westward