The Westward Expansion In The 1830's

During the mid-1800’s western expansion was influenced by economic growth. The attitudes that they needed more land in order to grow as a nation economically lead to more western expansion. So promises of land to homesteaders influenced Americans to travel west for economic gains.

In the Jacksonian age people were steadily pouring westward for various reasons. The panic of 1837 brought financial unrest, and created many poor who sought a new chance out on the frontier. Others moved west from the Great Awakening that stirred a race to convert the Indians to Protestantism before the Catholics got to them first (Allen and Schweikart).

The Pioneers were immigrants who wanted to move westward for a better lifestyle,new opportunities, and cheaper land. The men hunted for the family, grew field crops, and chopped wood for the family and to make shelter. The women would cook for the family, sew and knit clothes, and make medicine, soap, and candles. The children would bring water, keep the fire going, and milk the cows. The pioneers were the first to move into North America in the 1800’s

The expansion west brought about a change where some people moved to new land and other Native Americans were forced to leave. The new land that was discovered brought about many new arrivals. The idea of a better lifestyle was the dream of all. People liked the idea of being free for once in their lives.

Westward Expansion Did you know that since there was not much wood, pioneers used cow chips for fuel? Can you imagine walking long distances or riding in a covered wagon for months with small amounts of food and water hoping to find gold? This is what the pioneers had to deal with as they traveled west. Pioneers moved west because they wanted more land.

Each new territorial addition opened up new land for settlers. In 1803, Jefferson bought the Louisiana Territory from France. The Louisiana Purchase Treaty pushed the West boundary of the U.S from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains. The Manifest Destiny that occurred during the 1840s was inspired by the belief that our nation was destined to expand, so Americans acquired vast Western lands and began a movement to settle into these new territories. One group that made the journey west in the 1840s were the Mormons.

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.

Westward Expansion gave hope to many Americans. This act of growing the USA boosted our industry. Yet, this placed fear into many people’s hearts, especially minorities. This period of American history took place from 1803-1850. White men still overruled the country, and slavery was a key factor in the country’s trade.

had a God given mission to spread its civilization by conquest to the entire western hemisphere no matter who it harmed. The reasons for Manifest Destiny: - Technology like the telegraph, steamships, and railroads liked far distant places like Oregon and California that had seemed to remote. - Belief that the democracy must continue to grow in order to survive and a desire to expand the benefits of Americans. - Southerners were anxious to acquire new lands for additional slave states.

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.

From a hard life in Britain, to the tough ship voyage, early settlers didn't have it easy. When settlers came to explore and settle in America their lives were changed. The land, weather, and Native people were different. The early settlers brought their traditions, like clothing and religion, they also brought diseases and new language. They had to find more efficient ways of living, settlers had to do things they never had to in Europe and this changed America for the better.

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

This made others want to move to the region. In the 1840s, thousands of settlers came from the East. They were looking for land. They followed the Oregon Trail to the region.

Westward Expansion The idea of westward expansion was a pivotal point in our nation’s history. People were looking for something new and exciting. They found it in the form of adventure, excitement, fame, and untold riches! Two key events played a role in the move to push colonists farther into new territory.

President Thomas Jefferson sent out Lewis and Clark to explore the west and take notes on everything that they saw. He says in his public comment on the expedition’s return, on December 2, “ Lewis and Clark, and their brave companions, have, by this arduous service, deserved well of their country.” Lewis and Clark did as they were told. They went out and explored the west in hope to help Thomas Jefferson take it over. All three of these text show us that Thomas Jefferson was the one that wanted westward expansion.