- Beliefs: Americans believed that it was their natural right granted by god to colonize all of America. The second great awakening movement at the turn of the 19th century further supported American Christian’s belief in god given destiny to gain land stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.
- Politics: The United States government promoted settlement of the west by providing land grants for people who were willing to farm if given land. Freedman were also distributed land with the implementation of the 40 acres and a mule plan. The government also gained land from the Louisiana Purchase and after the Mexican-American war with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
- Economy: California offered economic opportunity after the discovery of gold in 1848. Soon after, the government funded the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad in order to promote westward expansion. Because of improved travel and transportation of goods, cities such as Denver prospered as a “pit stop” between the western and eastern United States
- Peopling: Much of the movement into the West was government driven, Natives were moved to reservations in order to clear space for American migrants, and the government incentivised western movements by offering cheap land and providing quicker means of transportation.
A bill for the Relief of Oklahoma Settlers - 53'd Congress
H.) 1894 - A bill for the relief of Oklahoma settlers or “Sooners”
I.) New settlers of Oklahoma.
P.) Someone passing this law so settling can continue.
P.) To make this land more easily obtainable and remove the penalty on “Sooners”.
I.) New settlers of Oklahoma.
P.) Someone passing this law so settling can continue.
P.) To make this land more easily obtainable and remove the penalty on “Sooners”.
Pacific Railroad Act - US Federal Government
H.) 1862 - Acts of Congress that promoted the construction of a transcontinental railroad; allowed for an increased rate of western settlement.
I.) First the federal government and later the people of the nation.
P.) Federal lawmakers writing/ attempting to ratify the bill.
P.) To allow for easier trade and transport via a nationally connected railroad.
I.) First the federal government and later the people of the nation.
P.) Federal lawmakers writing/ attempting to ratify the bill.
P.) To allow for easier trade and transport via a nationally connected railroad.
A Photograph of Comstock Lode. Virginia City, Nevada - US Government
H.) 1867 and 1868 - Comstock Lode. Virginia City, Nevada.
I.) The state government and federal government, as well as the people of the town.
P.) State government photographers.
P.) To show progress of western civilization and advancement.
I.) The state government and federal government, as well as the people of the town.
P.) State government photographers.
P.) To show progress of western civilization and advancement.
- Thesis: To what extent did Settlement of the west impact the growth of the West?
The discovery of gold in California hastened growth of the West by incentivising migrants to settle westward in hopes of finding economic opportunity mining for gold.
The massive spike in western migration in the 1850s was known as the California Gold Rush and in 1850, California was admitted to the Union in the Compromise of 1850. As railroad systems were developed, agriculture and ranching developed in the great plains to meet the needs of the booming West. Newfound gold drove the migration of optimistic immigrants in search of economic prosperity which was significant in growing the Western industry.