Westward expansion

Definition

Westward expansion refers to the 19th-century movement of settlers and immigrants into the western territories of the United States, driven by the belief in Manifest Destiny. This expansion was marked by significant events, policies, and conflicts that shaped the nation's growth and had lasting effects on Native American populations and the balance of power between free and slave states.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Treaty of Paris (1783) ended the American Revolutionary War, granting the U.S. vast new territories that fueled westward expansion.
2. The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 doubled the size of the United States and opened up vast tracts of land for exploration and settlement.
3. The Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806) was commissioned to explore the newly acquired lands and find a route to the Pacific Ocean, providing valuable information about the geography and resources of the West.
4. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 authorized the forced relocation of Native Americans from their homelands, leading to events like the Trail of Tears, where thousands suffered during their removal to Oklahoma.
5. Texas gained independence from Mexico in 1836, and its eventual annexation in 1845 intensified sectional tensions between slave and free states as more land became available for settlement.

Review Questions

• How did westward expansion contribute to conflicts with Native American populations during the 19th century?
  • Westward expansion significantly contributed to conflicts with Native American populations as settlers moved into territories that were traditionally inhabited by these tribes. The influx of settlers led to competition for land and resources, resulting in violent confrontations. Policies such as the Indian Removal Act further exacerbated these tensions by forcibly relocating Native Americans from their ancestral lands, leading to suffering and loss of life during events like the Trail of Tears.
• In what ways did the Louisiana Purchase facilitate westward expansion, and what were its implications for U.S. territorial growth?
  • The Louisiana Purchase effectively doubled the size of the United States, providing a vast area for settlement and exploration. It removed French control over this territory, allowing American settlers to move westward without interference. The acquisition also spurred expeditions like that of Lewis and Clark, which provided crucial information about geography and resources. This new land paved the way for further territorial acquisitions and increased interest in westward migration.
• Evaluate how westward expansion influenced the emerging sectional tensions between free and slave states leading up to the Civil War.
  • Westward expansion intensified sectional tensions as new territories were acquired, raising questions about whether they would permit slavery. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 attempted to address this issue by establishing a line dividing free and slave states but ultimately only postponed conflict. As Texas was annexed as a slave state in 1845, debates over slavery in new territories became increasingly heated, contributing to divisions between North and South that would culminate in the Civil War.

Related terms

Manifest Destiny:

The 19th-century doctrine that the expansion of the United States throughout the American continents was both justified and inevitable.

Homestead Act: A law passed in 1862 that provided 160 acres of public land to settlers for a small fee, encouraging westward migration and settlement.

Indian Removal: The policy implemented by the U.S. government in the 1830s to relocate Native American tribes from their ancestral lands in the Southeastern United States to designated Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River.