Westward Expansion - Essay Example

? Number: WESTWARD EXPANSION Introduction Widespread beliefs regarding religion, health, and medicine were greatly impacted by the culture of the “rush” mentality, whose adoption was silver, gold, and the aggressive seeking of land. The phenomenon of the Westward Expansion refers to the manner in which United States exploded both in population and size during the era of the 1800s. At this time, America reached the idea of exploring its boundaries up to the shores of the Pacific. Leaders, as well as politicians of the then government used the phrase, “Manifest destiny,” to present an explanation it was the mission and destiny of the United State to extend its boundaries by act of moving westward. By then, the initial 13 American colonies had grown; there was also an increased desire for acquiring new land. The Westward Expansion entailed various sub-phenomena: The Expedition of Lewis and Clark, the Act of Homestead, the concept of Gold Rush, the Trail of Oregon, and the famous Transcontinental Railroad. All these concepts changed the life of thousands of Americans. People started shifting to the west for land, power, gold, and wealth. Some peoples’ dreams were fulfilled, although often people abandoned the West desperately. Native Americans are intertwined with the Westward Expansion’s historical events. Sometimes encounters between the Native Americans and those moving West were at times positive and in other times disastrous; was not a great idea for some. Unfortunately, negative encounters emerged from misunderstood values of the involved groups cultures. Work Cited: Billington, Ray A., and Ridge, Martine. Westward Expansion: A history of the American Frontier. 6th ed. Library of Congress cataloging-in-Publication Data, 2001. (pp. 17-46). Quay, Sara E. Westward Expansion. Library of Congress cataloging-in-Publication Data, 2002. 19th C. American Westward Expansion. Accessed 4 Dec. 2011. (pp. 3-8). from http://www.synaptic.bc.ca/ejournal/hstryidx.htm Concerning the phenomenon of Lewis and Clark Expedition, President Thomas Jefferson, in 1803, purchased the Territory of Louisiana, for $15 million from France. By embracing the Act of Expedition, the nation of America registered a growth of approximately 1 million miles square; between the regions of Mississippi to Rockies, as well as between the Gulf of Mexico and Canada. President Jefferson sent Corp’s of Discovery by William Clark and Meriwether Lewis, in an attempt of obtaining a reliable water route form the Pacific as well as the nation gains an exploration of new territory. In 1862, The Homestead Act was signed in by Abraham Lincoln, in an effort of motivating people to proceed to the west and tend new lands and to take effect on the 1st of January 1863. The Act of Homestead provided about 160 acres to people. Every “homesteader” had to pay a fee of $10 for filing. Thereafter, they had to occupy the land and establish homes. The ownership was in effect, so long as the land was to be occupied and cultivated for a period of five years. About 270 million acres of land got claimed as well as settled per The Homestead Act. Gold was discovered in January 1848, on the estate referred to as John Sutter in California. In the same year, the findings of the treasurer, gold, was validated by President James Polk; the Gold Rush started. Those who proceeded to the west in search for gold, were termed; the “forty-niners” (49ers), since many abandoned their homes within the course of the year, 1849. Incidentally, others joined the gold region in 1848 and thus, were referred to as the 48ers. Consequently, California emerged a populous state following the Gold Rush. The United States laid thousands of track miles in 1835 that is in the eastern part. Trains eased the shipping of goods; it also made the cost of shipping go down and the process was quick. There was the emergence of towns and factories started to be established along the route of the railroad. Native Americans expressed a hateful attitude concerning the railroad. The railroad forced the Native Americans out of their native lands, causing them encroach reservations. Additionally, the evacuation process led to the wide opening of the spaces which the Native Americans cherished. The scaring sounds of trains scared the wild animals, and therefore, affecting their hunting. The established railroad, additionally, forced more people shift to the west, further pushing the Native Americans out of their lands. Relocation acts were eventually officiated. During the period of the Westward Expansion, there was the realization of the great race, which refers to the period when the United State’s government attested to a race between the Union Pacific Railroad and Central Pacific Railroad Company. The company had to spend lots of funds so as to attain the furthest in the specific direction. While the railroad was established, growth of towns was witnessed along the railroad. These towns were referred to as the Boomtowns. Workers of the railroad would spend their money and time in these newly established towns. Notably, theses towns were characterized by lawlessness and violence, and thus referred to as the rough places. In 1869, the fraternity of railroads merged, and thereafter entered into a consensus regarding the date and the place of the meeting; May 10, 1869, Promontory Point, and particularly at Utah. There followed the Golden Spike Ceremony, which engaged everyone in the United States of America. An instance is recorded, that inn 1854, there emerged violence, due to the confusion regarding a lost cow. Sioux, one of the local Indian tribes ate a cow that they came upon, though it was the property of a Mormon’s settler. Grattan, an experienced and a young officer together with several of his men, got the tribe insisting on the owner of the cow. Grattan, not obtained the accurate information, through an inebriated interpreter, created an attack strategy against the Native Americans. This innocent source led to the death of 100men, and therefore termed as the Grattan Massacre. There has been a misperception in the American history, that the biggest problem of the Native American’s emigrants. However, the truth remains that most tribes of the Native Americans were beneficial. They provided Clark and Lewis with transportation and supplies. Additionally, they played a significant role as hunters, scouts, and trail blazers. A Native American woman, Sacagawea, played a key role in the process of expedition. The lady was the translator for Clark and Lewis, as well as for the Native Americans. The same ritual of translation was performed, every time Clark and Lewis encountered various tribes of the Native Americans. The explanation conducted was to explain to the Native Americans, the land occupied by the Native Americans was a belonging of the United States; Thomas Jefferson was their “great father.” After the explanation, the Native Americans would thereafter receive a peace medal. The medal had Thomas Jefferson’s portrait, and a two- hands clasping picture. The period between 1790 and 1830 is referred to as “The Trail of Tears.” This was one of the American’s sad historical eras, when the group of Cherokee was evacuated from their native land in Georgia. Between 1790 and 1830, the population of whites, within Georgia, grew six times. Due to the resultant growth, the Georgians progressively took the land belonging to Cherokee Indians, as well as they forced the Cherokees into the frontier. Consequently, Congress enacted the “Indian Removal Act” in 1830. An attempt was made by the Cherokees, to appeal the very act and therefore realized the Cherokee Nation. Additionally, they presented a case striving to avoid attempts to evacuate them from their native land. The lawsuit found a way to the United States’ Supreme Court. However, in the case, Cherokee lost, generating the history, (Cherokee Nation v. Georgia 1831). Later, in 1838, the American Army attacked the Nation of Cherokee. Everyone including the children were evacuated from their native lands and thus forced to travel thousands of miles. History reveals that four thousand members of Cherokee perished following the very evacuation. Conclusion The culture of the “rush” mentality, as adoption from the discovery of silver, gold, and the aggressive seeking of land, showed great impact on the lives of Americans. The Expedition of Lewis and Clark, the Act of Homestead, the concept of Gold Rush, the Trail of Oregon, and the famous Transcontinental Railroad. The period within which the phenomenon of the Westward Expansion was experienced reveals that it was no a great deal for some people. Read More