...N. Scott Momaday. Thomas Jefferson’s America, by Stephen Ambrose. Lastly, Chief Joseph Speaks, written by Chief Joseph. In Robert Morgan’s book, his central idea is that history was not just made up of heroes and villains. Citizens had a major impact on the Westward Expansion. As it states in the text, “It is natural and perhaps necessary for historians and story-tellers to view the dramatic shifts of history through the actions of a few famous figures, whether heroes or villains. Certainly the story of the westward expansion of the United States has many examples of each, and sometimes it seems the villains outnumber the heroes.” During Chief Joseph's article, he says that the Indians were a type of hero to the explorers, Lewis and Clark, however, Lewis and Clark turned out to be the villains that had taken advantage of the Indians. As it states in the article, “Whenever the white man treats the Indian as they treat each other then we shall have no more wars. We shall be alike--brothers of one father and mother, with...
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...Would you rather move west and risk your health or prevent the Civil War? As you look deeper into the westward expansion, you will realize that it was not the best groundbreaking discovery for American settlers. At first, the westward expansion seemed like a good idea and a fruitful business plan but the westward expansion played a much deeper role in American history. Unfortunately, people did not realize the long term effects of moving elsewhere. The westward expansion was unnecessary because it created an unhealthy environment for new settlers and helped encourage the Civil War. Many people suffer from loneliness and that is exactly was the westward expansion promises. Moving west, there was nothing out there except for the fertile land...
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...The Westward Expansion Migration While migrating west about 15000 immigrants are estimated to have died on the Oregon Trail.The Westward Expansion Migration was the migration of about seven million people to the west via the Oregon trail, in 1803 through 1840. It gave America more farmland, double its size, and it helped the population grow. The Westward Expansion Migration was an important part of America's history because it expanded America’s border. Some of the people involved in the Westward Expansion Migration were John L.O’Sullivan, Lucinda Brown, and Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, both played an important part in the westward expansion migration. Despite their different personalities, they were appointed by Thomas Jefferson to go on an expedition. Simultaneously Lewis and Clark went on a two thousand mile expedition. Lewis and Clark were chosen by Thomas Jefferson because of their knowledge and experience. They went on an expedition to explore and discover the land bought in the Louisiana Purchase. Together they discovered the path of the Oregon Trail. The Oregon Trail was the path in which 7 million people migrated to the west on....
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...imperialism is rule by an emperor. The Colonists took to the new world and set out on their duty of manifest destiny. Manifest destiny means the doctrine or belief that the expansion of the U.S. throughout the American continents was both justified and inevitable. Manifest destiny and westward expansion were acts of imperialism. Manifest destiny made people travel around the country and take land from others. They would kill Native Americans for their land and make them their slaves. They would then put Native Americans in reservations where they were forced to live and they weren’t able to leave. Native Americans were forced to harvest crops and do what the Europeans told them. The Europeans expanded west and and made civilizations. Native Americans were becoming overwhelmed with incoming Europeans. The Europeans took their land by force, which is an example of imperialism. Westward expansion made America into a civilized country with many businesses and agriculture. Everyone moved to America hoping for a better, new life. People advertized with paintings that America was the place to be. People would paint pictures of a beautiful America, hoping to get people to move over to...
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...people included in the Westward expansion were Americans and the Native Americans that were being poorly treated by the Americans. Although the Americans didn’t treat the Native Americans well, they also unfairly treated Mexicans and Chinese. During the Westward expansion in around the 1800s, people moved west to conquer new land including the lands of the Native Americans, Chinese, and Mexicans. They did this because they believed that moving west was their duty. This belief is called Manifest Destiny. When the Americans went to conquer these lands, Native Americans, Chinese, and Mexicans faced racism, harsh and unjust treatment, and discrimination. The experience of Native Americans in America during the...
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...Part A: Highlight two options that best describe the central ideas of the text. A. History is not made up of just a few heroes and villains. B. Mexicans did not participate in westward expansion. C. Average citizens were responsible for westward expansion. D. Thomas Jefferson was responsible for westward expansion. Part B: Select two quotations from the text --one for each answer-- to support the answers to Part A. “It is natural and perhaps necessary for historians and story-tellers to view the dramatic shifts of history through the actions of a few famous figures, whether heroes or villains. Certainly the story of the westward expansion of the United States has many examples of each, and sometimes it seems the villains outnumber the heroes.” “A true story of the...
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...During the 19th century, American settlers wanted to expand westward for new territories. This expansion was known as manifest destiny. Many Americans wanted to enlarge the size of their country, so they could compete with other larger countries. Others wanted to expand America for economic reasons such as more land for farming, or for industrial purposes. While some viewed the expansion of the U.S. as a good thing, many others opposed the idea for various reasons. In the 1800s, the expansion of the United States gained many supporters and opposers. The expansion of the United States began in the 1800s. In 1803, while Thomas Jefferson was president, France had owned a large area of land between the Rocky Mountains and the Mississippi River...
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...you may think, there are many reasons as to why Manifest Destiny was justified. Reason one being that moving westward caused America to prosper and grow because of economic opportunities. Secondly, our country spread its democracy and cultural ideas to different people groups. Lastly, there was a population increase in the country, not only Americans, but immigrants started to flee to America in hopes of finding a new job and a new life, and to gain wealth. Ultimately, there are many reasons as to why Manifest Destiny was justified. The gold rush was possibly one of the largest events in America’s history that led to many economic...
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...Eric Espitia Ms. Righteous English B1A 02 October 2013 American History West When hearing the words “American history,” I think straight to the building of the colonies and the war for independence from British rule or the American civil war. The westward expansion of settlements across the land toward the Pacific Ocean seems to be buried under those previous moments in American history. In 1893, Frederick J. Turner (a professor at the University of Wisconsin), wrote an article that has been said to have “. . . created as profound a change in the general attitude toward American history as any single word on the subject that has ever been spoken” (Rounds). In the article, The Significance of the frontier in American history by Frederick J. Tuner, I believe he makes the argument that the westward expansion of America was an important and pivotal period in American history due to the development and the frontier nature. The Importance of the expanding frontier according to Turner is much more than people moving, rather it is the effects it has on the evolution of social and structural characteristics that carries more significance. The word “development” is used by Turner multiple times to describe the recurrence of progression from an unsettled land to a civilization. Turner believes the most important part of American development of that era is that it isn’t a unique event but an ever-happening event. He makes this clear when he notes that “. . . American development...
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...RAILROADS KEY IN WESTERN EXPANSION BETWEEN 1860 AND 1890 HIST 102: American History since 1877 May 21, 2016 Professor HIST 102 19 May 2016 Railroads Key in Western Expansion between 1860 and 1890 The time period between 1860 and 1890 in American history were critical times for westward expansion in the nation. During this period the nation went through sweeping changes as many territories and unorganized territories became states, major cities nearly tripled in number and agriculture saw a dramatic increase in improved agricultural land. This expansion from east to west was most definitely facilitated by the significant increase in the railroad networks. In the early 1860’s the farthest west the railroads touched were the eastern border of Texas. By the end of the 1890’s the railroads had expanded as far as the most western border of California, northern tip of Washington and the Southern border of Texas. In the early 1860’s approximately two thirds of the United States domestic lands were actually States, while four were still considered unorganized territories and the remaining were territories. At this time there were two prominent railroads in the United States, these two lines were the Central and the Pacific Railways. Contracts were awarded to these two companies to bring westward expansion and connect the east and west coasts. The growth and expansion of the nation’s railroads also brought millions of immigrant workers to the nation compromised...
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...“The term Western Expansion encompasses the acquisition of territories by the United States across the whole area of the North American continent from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west.” (www.american-historama.org/1841-1850-westwardexpansion/westwardexpansion.htm). There were many factors that lead up to the Westward Expansion. For example, an overflowing population, the government opens new land (i.e. Louisiana Purchase), Pacific expansion, and finally seeking expansion beyond borders all lead up to the Westward expansion. Also, there is a vase amount of impacts that the Western Expansion had on America and its people. Overflowing Population Many people think major increase in population is good...
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...Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion were fundamental ideas so the United States can be the size it is today however, there was a lot controversy going on back then, especially between native Americans and the colonists that came to America. Things such as land, trade were points of focus back then that caused conflicts such as King Philip's War, and then came things like benefits and non-benefits from Westward Expansion and Manifest Destiny, and how there was a huge backlash such as the French and Indian War, which caused a lot of future prejudices and hatred for In the light of the controversy of Manifest destiny and how both Americans and Native Americans are affected, the land is an issue that is brought up frequently, especially because...
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...The Westward Expansion The westward expansion is one of the most fascinating and significant topics in the history of the United States. Nowhere else has an area of equal size been settled by small groups and individuals. Westward expansion helped stimulate the American economy. At the time, progress was beneficial for the United States, but those benefits came with a cost, such cost that instead of advancements and developments being advantageous for humanity, it also became a harmful process in which numerous people were affected in many facets of life. This all means that progress is remarkable to achieve, but when achieved, people have to realize the process they had to do to achieve it, which was stepping on other people to get there. To gain access to the western part of the country the white settlers had to pass through the Native Americans. While pushing westward the white culture clashed with the plain Indians and their culture. As a result of these bloody battles and the white settlers that were victorious, the Native Americans were restricted to small portions of their land. The government supported assimilation, which was the plan to unite the Native American culture with the white one. White settlers started moving westward to settle the land gained by the victory over the Native Americans. A major factor that caused this major movement, other than by the victory of the war, was the Homestead Act. This act provided and granted 160 acres of free land...
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...In all the following text and paintings the authors talk about westward expansion. All the text mention one of their great figures in that time. If the United States didn’t expand westward there wouldn’t be enough room for the all of us. Robert Morgan’s central idea is that he wants the United States to stretch from coast to coast across America. “Thomas Jefferson, the quintessential American dreamer, whose vision of the future republic had from the beginning stretched over the mountains to the Mississippi Valley”. Robert Morgan stated this to show that Thomas Jefferson favored western expansion. In every text the author’s favor westward expansion. “We may confidently assume that our country is destined to be the great nation of futurity”....
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...Choctaw, Cherokee, Seminole, Chickasaw and Creek were moved West of the Mississippi River. The Trail of Tears was caused by Andrew Jackson's Indian removal policy. The Arkansas Territory contained present day Oklahoma and Arkansas. Over two thousand Native Americans died during the Trail of Tears. The Seminole fought back against the Americans when they were being forced to move. The Trail of Tears was somewhat good but mostly bad it was good because it gave more land for expansion of the U.S. and bad because it forced Native Americans to move from their ancestral land and thousands...
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