The United States government played a major part in Westward expansion. From building railroads to relocating Native Americans to reservations, the U.S. realized how big the West was both financially and politically. They found many ways to encourage citizens to settle in the west. They sold cheap land, borrowed money to support the railroads, cleared up hundreds of acres of good, fertile land (by taking it from the Native Americans). In this essay, we will be discussing the roles of the U.S. government in Westward expansion. One of the main roles the government played in Westward expansion was railroad building. The government knew that there would be major political and financial impacts of Westward expansion. Soon after the railroad showed its importance, many realized that the railroad would be the path west, and the tool to gain wealth from farms, factories, and fields. in 1862 Abraham Lincoln (who was President at the time) signed the Pacific Railroad Act, which authorized the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. However, since the U.S. was in the middle of war, they had to rely on gifts of land and …show more content…
People such as Charles Nordhoff, who wrote a book for travelers and settlers in the 1870s helped to spread these beliefs. He talks about the wonderful soil and climate in the west, which, according to him, can grow many different types of crops. he also discusses that as soon as the railroads claim their grants, settlers will be able to buy good, cheap land from the government for very cheap. Another example of governments offering good, cheap land is in an ad for land in Coffeyville, Kansas. The ad states that previous Native American land was for sale, and there was over fourteen million acres of land for sale. Sadly, that left very little space for the Native Americans, which brings us to the next
Some of the other significant events that happened during Lincoln's presidency include the Homestead Act of 1862, which encouraged the settlement of the western territories, and the establishment of the Department of Agriculture. He also oversaw the construction of the transcontinental railroad, which helped to connect the East and West coasts of the United States and was a significant step forward in the country's economic
Morgan’s central ideas of the article support that westward expansion was something that a majority of America wanted and was helpful. “The Way to Rainy Mountain” by N. Scott Momaday was a story about an indian tribe traveling across to a promise land through westward expansion. “Thomas Jefferson’s America, 1801” by Stephen Ambrose was about Thomas Jefferson and many other Americans wanting westward expansion and getting explorers to go out and see what was in the land they had obtained. “Reporting to the President, September 23-December 31, 1806” by Stephen Ambrose was about the exploration westward was over and the news about the land westward came in. “Chief Joseph Speaks…” by Chief Joseph was about after people had started traveling westward
The people that expanded westward had to endure great challenges or setbacks on they 're exploring. They encountered a lot of weather challenges, Indian attacks and animal attacks. During this time of exploration the president Thomas Jefferson was not helping everyone explore. The westward expansion was actually a major part of his wild soul that just wanted to get out there and explore. The explorers and present day us got lots of benefits but also consequences.
The idea he brought into light about the image of the frontier and the west inspiring American development can be seen throughout this time, and into the 20th century as well. As America moved to the west, more areas where becoming populated and developed, creating new challenges for the government. Some included requesting protection provided by the government against feared Indian tribes. Also, large land owning railroad companies would ask for lessening fees paid to the government and acquiring additional lands to assist them in developing rail lines in many portions of the west. As the frontier grows, the government continued passing legislation to support and give incentive to those to go out west.
First Semester Research Paper During the 19th century, there was a period of time where white settlers in the United States thought expanding throughout all of North America was justified. The Americans also thought it was their divine right to expand and that it was inevitable. This is just another instance where the Americans took the Native Americans for granted. The Native Americans shouldn 't have been kicked out because they had nowhere else to go, the settlers had peace treaties with the tribes and the reasons for pushing them out were illogical.
Later in history, during the Manifest Destiny Era, a reason for expansion was better agricultural resources because having an ample amount of land would benefit the U.S. in many ways from the new nutrient rich soil. This new soil and land would also stimulate slavery because of the new natural resources this would create would also improve the economy and the half of the economy based on industry. This caused new products to be created and produced, from the new natural resources grown and taken from surrounding land. This is similar to the expansion past the Appalachian mountains, into the south. The prices of tobacco were dropping and slavery was starting to slowly die out because of the low prices.
To the president at the time, Thomas Jefferson, expanding westward was a major key for the nation to be successful. Many of the United States citizens believed in Manifest Destiny. Because of the Manifest Destiny, citizens truly believed it was destined for the United States to expand far west. Although some federalists opposed it, the Louisiana Purchase was essential in the growing of the size of the United States. The Louisiana purchase was the purchase of 820,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River.
The Westward Expansion expand from 1807 to 1910 during that time America changed forever geographically, economically and advanced in technology. The different happenings that occurred during the Westward Expansion defined the land boundaries of the modern day the United States and various happenings and techniques during help make the modern day the United States. If the outcomes of the wars fought during the Expansion were different the modern day the United States could look very different geographically. The railroad made traveling and settling claims easier which increased the population in the west without those settlements other countries could have taken the land from U.S. by settling their citizens there. The government through the Homestead Act help many settlers become land owners and succeed in building towns in the west.
Westward Expansion Document-Based Question Essay During the mid-1800s there was a large movement for Americans who lived on the East coast to move westward. This caused hardships to the movers to the west, as well as the Native Americans and the Land. The settlers thrived from Westward Expansion, but they unfairly took everything away from the people and the animals who were there before. The movement was mainly started by large deposits of gold found in western areas which made many people want to try and find gold for themselves.
Thousands of them did not survive. By 1840, thousands of Native Americans had been driven from their lands in the southeastern states. These actions by the US government gave white settlers many thousands of acres of desirable
During the 1840s and later through the Civil War Reconstruction Era, western expansion faced a wave of American interest. Many people thought the west was overflowing with wealth and opportunities. The land was advertised and sold by the government in an attempt to increase the nation’s farming productivity and territorial expansion. Land legislation promised to reward young farmers and families for their successful Midwest homesteads. This legislation included the Homestead Act of 1862 and the Timber Culture Act of 1873.
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.
Jimmy Waw Mr. Mancha September 26, 2017 Essay I will describe to you three federal land grants that were instrumental in opening westward expansion in the United States. These three include the Transcontinental Railroad, Homestead Act, and the Morrill Act. The transcontinental railroad is a train route across the United States that was completed in the year 1869. This was a project of two railroad companies called the Central Pacific and the Union Pacific.
The Westward Expansion offered an opportunity to aid the growth of the United States and expand its borders. A deal that shaped the landscape of America as we’ve known it, and you ask who, how, and why it affected people negatively? A people that started making America their homes before the colonists came, the natives of America. The places they called home were gone, left, and forgotten, but America saw it as a way for industrialization. During America's growth the land was theirs monetarily, but spiritually it belonged to Native Americans, which America was too selfish, and naïve to be aware.
The people who settled the west were greatly dependent on the US government and the policies they adopted. The settling of the west in the late 19th century was similar to the settlement of the south in the 1830’s. Andrew Jackson drove out the indians so that the valuable land of the south could be secured by white settlers. Once again, the federal government made it possible to settle the west by forcing indians off of their lands. A recurring theme in American history is manifest destiny and the attempt to develop unsettled lands by the federal government.