More handpicked essays just for you.
Effects of the Westward expansion
The influences of the westward expansion
What caused westward expansion essay
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
For twenty years after the Gold Rush, Americans in California felt extremely remote from the rest of the United States. The early Forty-Niners of the California Gold Rush wishing to come to California were faced with limited options. Some options included sailing around South America from the Atlantic which could take up to eight months or travel by land but that came with many dangers as well. The railroads helped establish countless towns and settlements, it paved the way to abundant mineral deposits and fertile tracts of pastures and farmland, and created new markets for eastern goods. For many, the dream of a transcontinental railroad symbolized all sorts of hopes for better things.
1.What challenges did early settlers on the westward trails face? Settlers on the westward trail faces many hardships. They spanned over half the continent for a five to eight month journey which was 2,000 miles long going west. They all took wagons on many Oregon trails with very little rest stops. They left their jobs to venture off to a new life and in some cases, even their families.
Westward expansion was in many ways by the federal government in the 1800s. This extension of the United States had a big influence on the country. Westward expansion brought railroads, new cities, gold mines, new farmland, more resources, and much more. Expansion of the country came with a lot of positives and also some negatives. From 1805 to 1900 the population of the natives went from 15,000 according to document 1 the non- Native Americans went from zero to 95,000.
There were both positive and negative components of westward expansion from 1800 to 1875. By the late of 1800s, the land of the United States was mostly purchased. In seventy five years, the United States continuously expanded westward, which was encouraged by the idea of Manifest Destiny. New land in the United States led to more economic, social, and political opportunities. Gaining more land also led to disputes between the states and wars with other countries.
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
After the Civil War ended many people were in hope of finding land since population was increasing. Since the West was underdeveloped and uncivilized, many decided to expand the land. First the Louisiana Purchase increased the opportunity of expansion. Then industrialization and the Homestead Act also caused many companies encouraged to move West due to the low cost of land and that the transportation was provided through the railroads. In order to complete such goals, something had to be done with the Natives since it conflicted with their home area.
Products were not just being shipped to the east, raw materials for building houses were sent by railroad to the settlers in the west. The railroad just do not transport goods, it also transports people. Riding on a train was a luxury compared to a horse or stage coach. The ride was much smoother and more spacious. Passengers could enjoy meals while still being on the train, and sleep in their cabins if they choose.
Before the Transcontinental Railroads there were few lines running West. There was a huge gap of hundreds of miles between many places. After the development of the Transcontinental Railroads manufactured goods as well as people could be quickly transported across the country. Many of the goods needed such as coal, timber, oil and iron could be carried to and from factories and mills. To encourage settlers to inhabits lands purchase prices were low but much of the land was turned over to railroad companies to continue to build additional
A trip across the country by wagon was dangerous and took months. In order to travel west before the Pacific Railroad, people had to ride on horse drawn wagons across dangerous land with many risks. Some people traveled by ship around the continent.
The Civil War was the result of the built up conflict in the nation, the nation was first assembled under a unified ideal, that every US citizen has the right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our nation's westward expansion took place in 1787 to 1861. The westward expansion led to economic, cultural and political differences from the North, South and West that would later divide the nation. An economy defines how a region of land prospers as one and grows. The people in the North and South had a different way of using their resources and people.
The westward expansion of of the U.S. began to happen around the 1800s. during that time the social opportunities increased since many people moved to the west because the government was paying them or giving them free land. The political opportunities did not increased as much since most of the people moving westwards were poor or immigrants and only white males had the right to participate in those events. The economic opportunities increased for the people who moved westward because of the gold rush and the opportu tires that were provided.
In the years following the Revolutionary War the United States would begin to expand, although not popular among all citizens, it helped shape the country into what we know today. The first acquisition of territory would be as a result of the Treaty of Paris with Great Britain ending the Revolutionary War. This treaty marked the boundaries between the British colonies still located in North America and ceded the thirteen American colonies to a newly recognized country known as the United States of America. This would not be the only acquisition of territory that the United States would complete between the years of 1789 and 1815 but it would be the initial acquisition of territory that would develop this newly formed nation.
In conclusion, the westward expansion was one of the most important times in American history but one of the hardest for those who made the journey. The settlers had to go through a lot of hardships to get a new life in the west. The Gold Rush helped bring people to the west and populate California so it became a state. People such as Sacagawea helped Lewis and Clark helped explore the new terrain and make maps so people could live there. Even though the pioneers got diseases, had conflicts with the Native Americans, and had to travel for long periods of time in a ship or covered wagon, they never gave up hope.
After their exploration, many people started to take interest in moving West. There were many different reasons why people moved, including a search for a fresh start at life, a chance at starting an economic success through agriculture and
That is just one of many reasons there was Westward Expansion. Overpopulation, new inventions of transportation methods, and new opportunities. These are three of many reasons why Americans in the 1800’s felt urged to move west. Some may claim that Westward expansion was not right for America to do because of the conflicts that were aroused afterward.
