Westward Expansion
Definition
Westward Expansion refers to the period in 19th-century American history when settlers moved westward across the continent, resulting in the establishment of new states and territories.
Analogy
Think of Westward Expansion like a game of Monopoly. Just as players aim to buy more properties on the board to expand their empire, so did Americans move westwards to acquire more land and resources.
Related terms
Manifest Destiny: This is a belief that was prevalent during the 19th century among American settlers that they were destined by God to expand their territory across North America.
Oregon Trail: A historic east-west large wheeled wagon route connecting the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon. It was one of the main overland migration routes on which pioneers traveled across North America in wagons.
Louisiana Purchase: The acquisition of French Louisiana by the United States from France in 1803. This nearly doubled the size of U.S territory, paving way for further westward expansion.
"Westward Expansion" appears in:
Practice Questions (20+)
- Which of these represent a direct consequence of westward expansion in the mid-19th century?
- What did pro-imperialists argue was the significance of the US finishing with westward expansion by 1890?
- How might westward expansion differed if Native Americans were treated as sovereign nations by U.S government?
- Which colonial era practice can be considered a precursor to policies used during westward expansion?
- What caused the surge of westward expansion during the early-mid nineteenth century?
- How did Native American cultures persist despite displacement due to westward expansion?
- What trend does the establishment of Jamestown (1607) and Massachusetts Bay Colony (1630) share with westward expansion mid-19th century?
- What technological innovation was instrumental in westward expansion during the 19th century?
- What was the primary economic activity that drove Westward Expansion in the Early Republic era of US History?
- How did Native American resistance efforts during westward expansion echo those of colonial times?
- How might westward expansion under Jefferson's presidency differ had he not secured Louisiana Purchase?
- Which piece of legislation led to the westward expansion in 1800s by providing free land to settlers?
- How did Louisiana Purchase impact westward expansion?
- Which policy advocated for the westward expansion of American settlers across North America during the mid-nineteenth century?
- How might westward expansion differ if Congress rejected the Missouri Compromise in 1820?
- Which transportation development during the Market Revolution transformed westward expansion?
- What feature of westward expansion persisted despite advancements introduced by the market revolution?
- Would westward expansion occur faster if steamboats hadn't revolutionized transportation during the market revolution?
- How did the Market Revolution influence westward expansion in America?
- What was among the most significant impacts of westward expansion on America’s evolving democratic ideals?
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