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Moreover, Westward expansion also meant putting off the resolution of slavery. Slavery continued in the United States until the 1860s. In fact, Westward expansion was one of the issues that gave rise to the deep rifts between north and south, between free and slave states. How to address slavery in newly acquired territories became one of the most poignant political and social issues in nineteenth century America. Yet another consequence of Westward expansion was a population explosion due not just to rising birthrates among the population but also the increased room for immigrants. The first waves of Asian immigrants arrived to work on American railroads in the new Western territories and later waves of Eastern and Southern Europeans arrived to the land of opportunity. Like the Native American populations whose land had been stolen, the non-white residents of Western territories rarely had stakes in any wealth generated by the gold rush.
As Quay points out, Westward expansion epitomizes the myth of American independence and freedom. The frontier image fosters idealizes...
Brave men and women dealt with harsh living conditions and an even harsher journey across hundreds of miles of territory. Much of American identity and mythos is shaped by the era of Westward expansion, for better or worse. The settlements of western lands allowed for the continual birthing of new communities, which would allow residents to forge their own laws and design their own ways of life remote from centralized governments in well-established eastern settlements (Billington & Ridge). Although Westward expansion left a trail of tears in its wake, the continent is difficult to envision any other way.
Works Cited
Billington, Ray Allen & Ridge, Martin. Westward Expansion: A History of the American Frontier. 6th edition. University of New Mexico Press, 2001.
"Learn About Westward Expansion." Digital History. Retrieved online: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/modules/westward/index.cfm
Quay, Sara E. Westward Expansion. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2002.
Works Cited
Billington, Ray Allen & Ridge, Martin. Westward Expansion: A History of the American Frontier. 6th edition. University of New Mexico Press, 2001.
"Learn About Westward Expansion." Digital History. Retrieved online: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/modules/westward/index.cfm
Quay, Sara E. Westward Expansion. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2002.
American Expansion Post-Reconstruction America gave rise to an incredibly transformative society and culture. Modernism was beginning to sweep the land with the industrial revolution, urbanization and westward expansion. How did the underprivileged fare in this new America? What were the experiences and problems of the Native Americans, women, African-Americans, and various immigrant groups at this time? Be specific. Was there a gap between the rhetoric of hope and democracy peddled by
WOMEN IN THE LATE 19th AND 20th CENTURIES LAURA INGALLS WILDER Laura Ingalls Wilder gives some accurate depictions of women's lives when settling the West in the 19th Century but falls short of other key respects. Brief description of essay: Laura Ingalls Wilder's work is popular at least in part due to its ability to portray a glimpse of women settling in the western United States during the 19th Century. However, she either
While unable to purchase land in their original locations, Europeans and Americans alike moved to the West as this region presented them with the ability to capitalize more on their money. Additionally, the decreased cost of transportation would have also contributed to the movement of the population. Last, it is also argued that the migration was generated by technological developments. All these in essence worked together to create a
This reveals the more liberated ideals of the west and of the pioneer culture. First, Alexandra envisions herself "being lifted and carried lightly by some one very strong. He was with her a long while this time, and carried her very far, and in his arms she felt free from pain." The masculine figure takes the place of the gossamer female angel. She is about to be subsumed by
Captain Smith by Pocahontas Antonio Capellano's sculpture The Preservation of Captain Smith by Pocahontas (1825) is still in the Capitol Rotunda along with other works of the same period such as William Penn's Treaty with the Indians and The Landing of the Pilgrims, although they no longer resonate with audiences in the same way as they did in the 19th Century. In the 20th and 21st Centuries, more sophisticated and educated
These impulses may result in compulsive behavior ultimately leading to financial ruin and family devastation; partly for this reason, most American states had prohibited games of chance and other forms of gambling under a paternalistic attempt to protect people from their own compulsions (Lears p. 193). Las Vegas benefited from a confluence of circumstances that brought in workers and tourists to partake of something other states outlawed, and in