Westward Expansion in American History Introduction Westward Expansion was a time in American history that was marked by the introduction of movement to the west. The nation saw an influx of settlers, explorers, and businessmen moving toward the western frontier starting in the early 19th century. The search for new lands, resources, as well as economic prospects, riches, and the pursuit of big dreams, all contributed to this westward movement. Pioneers who set out into unexplored territory found a variety of lands, Native American cultures, and difficult obstacles such as weather, insects, snakes, and disease. In addition to widening the nation's geographical borders, westward expansion also paved the way for major adjustments to the nation's …show more content…
The country's climb as a world power was brought on by chances for settlement, development, and economic expansion that the capture of additional territories brought. I would like to point out the railroad system that expanded into the West provided settlers with new jobs, expansion into smaller towns and linked the country together but disrupted the land of the Native Americans while linking the country together. Economic Opportunities Economic opportunities played a vital role in migration to the west. The discovery of gold in California during the Gold Rush of 1849, dragged tens of thousands of prospectors westward in search of dreams and wealth. The hopes of abundant land for agriculture and the expansion for trade, the Oregon Trail, and the Santa Fe Trail, attracted settlers and entrepreneurs alike. The land growth also helped shape the cattle and ranching industry, the population of ranches and cowboys grew across the west as they helped shape the land and expand the reach of the US. The Homestead Act played a key role in this by offering land in exchange for their time and settlement in the new area. Settlers also …show more content…
Cultures and Social Change Westward expansion also had plenty of technology advances and support projects. The completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 dramatically reduced travel time and made the transportation of goods and people expanded in a shorter amount of time. It helped create economic growth, encouraged settlers to set up new towns along the railroad and strengthened the industry. It is important to acknowledge the significant negative consequences of westward expansion. Native American tribes were kicked off their lands and forced onto reservations, leading to the loss of their cultural heritage and devastating social and economic impacts. The killing of buffalos led to their swift decline, and we still see them as an endangered species today. Political Growth Westward expansion expanded the reach of democratic ideas and shaped our government at the time of the movement. As new territories were settled, the question of whether they would be admitted as free, or slave states became a major issue. These debates and compromises by the states shaped the nation's political landscape and led to the revolutionary movement and the Civil War. The expansion of democracy