Dbq Westward Expansion Essay

The westward expansion is a movement of settlers promoted by the federal government that pushed west to get things that benefit them. Such as gold, land, financial reasons, and religious freedom. During this time, America was going through Indian removal acts, economic issues and so much more. The westward expansion occurred due to gold and cheaper land resulting in Native Americans being forced off their own land.

To begin, One of the reasons for the westward expansion was gold. Document 4, stated, “ White men had found gold in the mountains around the land of the Winding Water [in Oregon]”. This quote was describing how white settlers found gold in the Native's mountains. Natives had no power over what the white men/settlers were doing.

In document 2, There is a passage shown about owning land. The quote states, “for the benefit of widows and single women over twenty-one years of age, that they are as much entitled to homesteads as men”. This passage is telling us what extent people went to, to get people to buy the land/ move west, they wanted to draw people in. Document 2 links to my claim, I know this because, since the federal government was promoting the expansion they also had to give an ideal promotion of land as well meaning offering women land and better opportunities. They stated how the land was cheap and that they could keep it, and how they were able to work and keep their money. This land offer had an impact and it could potentially change people's lives. That land was the Native's land, but they also had no control over what was happening during this time, they just had to suffer the consequences others brought to

In document 5, There is an image shown about land. The poster discusses ‘ a new beginning’, how many acres they're providing, and how cheap the land would be. They wanted people to be sort of drawn in and said things that they wanted to hear so it could benefit ‘both sides’. Document 5 links to my claim, I know this because, since the federal government was promoting the expansion they also had to give an ideal life to someone who would want. They stated many benefits one being cheap land. Another is how it could be a new beginning. This land was an impact and it was in fact the main reason most people went and followed this path. The Homestead act is also a large part of this. The Homestead act in simple terms was the government offering land / selling to settlers. That land was the Native's land, but they also had no control over what was happening during this time, they just had to suffer the consequences others brought to