Westward Expansion

Introduction

Adventure, fear and excitement were all part of Westward expansion. Westward expansion refers to the period in U.S. history during the 1800s when there was a major migration from the East to the West (Roark, et al 10). This period is also referred to as "manifest destiny" because many Americans believed it was their destiny to move west and settle unclaimed territory. The Westward Expansion covers a period in history during which Americans made a concerted effort to expand the United States to the Pacific coast. Spurred by the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, pioneers grew eager to travel west and settle on new land. This paper discus westward expansion from the time the colonists arrived through the settlement of the west.

Discussion

The California Gold Rush is an important topic related to Westward expansion because it was one of the main motivating factors behind the huge influx on the West Coast of pioneers in the mid-1800s. San Francisco's population exploded from only 800 in 1848 up to over 50,000 by the next year (Roark, et al 36). People seeking gold packed up wagons and headed to California to try to strike it rich, but many suffered along the way or never found their fortunes. The trip across the country took many months; then when gold-seekers arrived in California the physical labor and working conditions were very harsh. Yet, there were enough successful gold prospectors to lead to the extraction of nearly $2 billion worth of gold. In addition to wealth from gold discoveries, many pioneers became entrepreneurs who set up businesses to cater to the needs of the growing population in California (Luchetti 99).

The Oregon Trail played a big part in Westward expansion, but by the 1880s, the Oregon Trail became largely obsolete as railroads were built in the West. Lewis ...