Westward Expansion Dbq Essay

Grade 5, Unit 2: Cornerstone 2 Westward Expansion Database Articles Database Articles • Pioneer Women - http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/pioneer-womanx2019s-life-200-years-ago Note: you will have to log into the databases below using a DC Public Library Card or DC One Card. After logging in, click on the link again to get to the appropriate article. • Black Cowboys - http://www.worldbookonline.com.dclibrary.idm.oclc.org/student/article?id=ar753924&st=exodusters#tab=homepage • Manifest Destiny - http://school.eb.com.dclibrary.idm.oclc.org/levels/elementary/article/353420 • Oregon Trail - http://school.eb.com.dclibrary.idm.oclc.org/levels/elementary/article/353574 • Oregon Trail - http://www.worldbookonline.com.dclibrary.idm.oclc.org/kids/home#article/ar831676

In the late 19th century there was a spike in Railroad Construction in the United States. The growth began as a result of congress passing the Pacific Railroad Bill in 1862 which began the construction of the Transcontinental Railroads. In the near future the Transcontinental Railroads would connect both sides of the United States, therefore they would eventually lead up to the settling of the west. Railroads in the late 19th century would affect the settling of the west by allowing people to travel to find work in an efficient manner, by allowing faster and more efficient methods to transport goods to consumers, and improving the economy overall. Starting off Railroads greatly impacted travel time from one place to another.

We would not be as advanced as we are now if this had not come about. Not everyone agreed, and some had to be unwillingly removed from areas, which could cause some controversy when it comes to how successful the railroad really was. The construction of the Transcontinental Railroad brought out the selfishness and power hungriness of the white settlers, the endurance and dedication of the Chinese and African American people, and the defense the Indians had for what they thought was

Grasso 1 Michael Grasso Ms. Vargas 20TH US HI. 21 September 2014 Westward Expansion in the 1800s After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, which was the United States buying the huge territory known as Louisiana from the French, the country doubled in size. This gave the country great opportunity due to the abundance of land and natural resources. Some citizens believed in manifest destiny which is the belief that the American settlers were destined to expand as a country throughout the continent. In the 1860s when the Civil War was coming to an end the west was still greatly undeveloped and rural.

Expansion out West for the United States changed the dynamic of the United States forever. The intergration of whites and native americans caused a multitude issues for with the expansion out West. Striking gold was the dream of many moving out West with the idea of living an upper class life. Native Americans had a culture shock with the expansion out West by the United States government. Politcians played a huge role in the expansion out West such as Andrew Jackson.

Manifest Destiny was the ideology, which held that the United States was destined to expand from coast to coast on the North American continent. Manifest Destiny was a substantial factor in the expansion of the United States and its conflicts with Native American’s over land. The advancement West was also propelled by the end of the Civil War, the Homestead Act, wagon trails, and the discovery of gold and other non-precious metals. By the mid-1700s Native Americans leave their farms to lead a nomadic life roaming the Great Plains hunting buffalo on horseback.

People Need a Change After the colonies gained its freedom from England new complications arose. Many colonists were eager to progress, so they cultivated their own products to survive; that way, most of the Americans feed their families. In those years, the country grew fast; many immigrants arrived, and some people moved from place to place constantly. As a consequence of all these changes surged the market revolution, a change that marked the beginning of the development of the United States; then following this commercialization, the westward expansion and sectionalism appeared, and finally, the arrival of Andrew Jackson to the presidency sealed the transformation of the country.

From 1860-1900, America underwent hundreds of different social, cultural, religious, and political changes that forever shaped how the nation will be. Westward expansion played a huge role of how the country ran, and how thousands of Indigenous lives were treated. The effects of American westward expansion on Native Americans were negative, as Native Americans were forced to experience assimilation, injustice, dehumanization. To start, assimilation was a huge part of America, as hundreds of thousands of Native Americans were forced to assimilate to white culture, for the ideal American society. As one can see in document 6, A commissioner of Indian Affairs emphasizes the ‘issue’ with Native American culture, as well as being “ignorant” of

The Westward Expansion all started when America made the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. There were many benefits from the purchase for the US that the French didn’t realize before they sold it. The purchase gave the US access to the Mississippi river which allowed for expansion of river trade to the North and South from the center of the US. The port city of New Orleans was bought by the US and its prosperity benefited the US greatly. The US sent Lewis and Clark west to investigate the land they purchased.

In the mid-nineteenth century Westward Expansion seemed perfectly natural to numerous Americans. The western frontier represented the chance to start over and create a better life. The west was not corrupt nor occupied, which made it easy for settlers in the east to migrate and explore free land. This is also known as Manifest Destiny, the belief that America and its settlers were destiny to travel and expand west throughout the continent. When the Eastern settlers migrated west, they brought the most advanced technology and the smartest engineers, scientists, and architects to create the Transcontinental Railway. As portrayed in American literature, Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion had a positive effect on America and its people because

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.

What do you think was the best decision during The Westward Expansion? You might have said The Louisiana Purchase or The Lewis and Clark expedition or even the Acquisition of Texas. All these options are good but, The Gold Rush was definitely more beneficial and greater than these options. On many articles this was stated about the Louisiana Purchase,” While such a significant acquisition of land was an advantageous move for the United States, the purchase produced some problems and complications.” One of these problems was,” The Louisiana Territory rekindled the smoldering debate over slavery in the United States.”

In the 19th Century, there were strong supporters of the ideology of Manifest Destiny. Manifest Destiny was basically the belief of expansion by settlers expanding all over America because god supposedly destined the Americans for expansions by their resources. This resulted for the Americans to find a modern mode of transportation that would make traveling from the east to the west coast easier. This resulted in a mega construction known as the Transcontinental Railroad. The railroad not only helps with transportation but with trading.

The Westward Expansion consisted of almost 7 million Americans migrating west, hoping to get land and be wealthy. It is often called Manifest Destiny, because many people believed settlers was intended to expand the west. Because so many people thought this way it was also thought the U.S was physically separated from Europe. This migration of people included people from Spain, France, Mexico, and other countries. The Western Expansion had a part in the foreign policies in the expansion towards the pacific and the way the U.S treated their relationship with other

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.