Westward Expansion Research Paper

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Westward expansion is something that was vital to the formation of the United States. At the time, the belief of many was that is was the “will of God.” Others believed it was the simple right of Americans to push westward. Today, it is still questioned by historians as to whether or not it was the right decision. If it was the right decision, could it have been done differently? The expansion into the west was a controversial topic due to the push and pull factors, new technologies, and the conflicts faced. Westward expansion being a controversial topic today is largely due to the push and pull factors. Some of the push factors include finding new markets for commerce, claiming land for ranching, mining, farming, locating harbors on the Pacific, spreading the virtues of democracy, and seeking riches. (Resource 5) The California gold rush …show more content…
(Resource B) A technological advancement that very greatly allowed for Americans to move west was that of the line boat or freight. Line boats were much faster, and much cheaper than that of horse drawn wagons. Line boats also only required two mules, which was much more efficient compared to the necessary eight horses of horse drawn wagons. (Resource D) The development of the Steam Engine is also a development that impacted the ability to make the move west. Without this type of transportation, it would have been much more difficult to move supplies, and people west. Railways and these new engines gave jobs, and also allowed the United States to advance economically. The advancements in technology during this time are regarded as being vital to the move, and are certainly one of the topics discussed on westward expansion. Although the advancement in technology was vital to the move westward, the conflicts encountered must also be remembered as to why this movement is still controversial

Westward Expansion Research Paper

of 1803, westward expansion has been a continuity in American history until the US census of 1890, which announced that the frontier no longer existed. In forty-five years, the organized United States doubled in size, from the Louisiana Territory to the west coast. Westward expansion to the Pacific Coast wouldn’t have been as efficient, or perhaps not possible, without several key factors. This research paper will discuss such factors. The major influences of a continuous westward expansion of America…

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Westward Expansion Research Paper

Movement impacts people, places, and ideas in multiple, significant ways. The Westward Expansion of the United States is a prime example of the consequences that movement has on people, places, and ideas. The birth of the Texas Republic was spurred by the migration of American settlers. Bleeding Kansas was caused by the mass migration of pro and anti-slavery settlers, who then clashed in a guerilla war. The California Gold Rush, which was fueled by rapid migration, left a long-lasting impact on the…

Words 843 - Pages 4

Westward Expansion Research Paper

When one hears the word ‘movement’ most think about minor actions like dancing or running, however the movement of the Westward Expansion was much more than that. The movement towards the West affected people, places and encouraged biased opinions on many people. Despite what most Americans think, the westward expansion wasn’t just the beginning of the USA, it was also the end of many other nations, annihilating innumerable generations of Native Americans and making slaves of African Americans and…

Words 1039 - Pages 5

Westward Expansion Research Paper

Movement impacts people, places, and ideas in multiple, significant ways. The Westward Expansion of the United States is a prime example of the consequences that movement has on people, places, and ideas. The birth of the Texas Republic was spurred by the migration of American settlers. Bleeding Kansas was caused by the mass migration of pro and anti-slavery settlers, who then clashed in a guerilla war. The California Gold Rush, which was fueled by rapid migration, left a long-lasting impact on the…

Words 843 - Pages 4

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America could not have survived without their assistance, it was not long before the Native Americans were viewed as a problem population. They were an obstacle to the expansion plans of the colonial government and the same to the newly formed United States. The Native Americans were dealt with in various ways. During expansion some were outright exterminated through war while others forcibly made to relocate to lands deemed less than ideal. The idea was to make them vanish – out of sight, out…

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Cebollada 1 Javier Cebollada Desentre Professor Mónica Calvo Literatura Norteamericana III June 13, 2014 The falling off The Great Gatsby’s American Dream One of the most notable elements in Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby is the conception of the American Dream; a well-known term whose appearance is very present throughout the story. Despite being a non-mentioned term in the novel itself, the author still conveys the idea of the American Dream through the employment of a brilliant sociological…

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