Gold rush and mining opportunities
(silver in Nevada) The opportunity to work in the cattle industry; to be a “cowboy” Faster travel to the West by railroad; availability of supplies due to the railroad. The opportunity to own land cheaply under the Homestead Act.
What were the main reasons Americans began to settle the West Coast?
Westward expansion, the 19th-century movement of settlers into the American West, began with
the Louisiana Purchase
and was fueled by the Gold Rush, the Oregon Trail and a belief in “manifest destiny.”
What was the most significant reasoning for settlement in the West?
The establishment of roads and canals, and later, railroads
, was a critical factor in the settlement of the West.
What was the number one reason the West was settled so quickly?
One of the main reasons people moved west was
for the land
. There was lots of land, good soil for farming, and it could be bought at a cheap price. In addition, it was very crowded living on the East Coast. The population of the United States was growing at a very fast rate.
What was significant about westward expansion?
Expansion of
the United States moved steadily westward from the late 18th to the mid 19th centuries
. This territorial movement displaced most of the Native American peoples who lived in those lands for thousands of years before the arrival of European colonists.
How did the United States settle the West?
From the 1820s through the 1840s, westerners pushed for more liberal land laws, calling for “free homesteads” or “donations” for those who would settle on the land. …
The Homestead Act
, which became law on May 20, 1862, was responsible for helping settle much of the American West.
Why were the American Indians angry with the settlers?
They hoped to transform the tribes people into civilized Christians through their daily contacts. The Native Americans resented and resisted the colonists’ attempts to change them. Their
refusal to conform to European culture
angered the colonists and hostilities soon broke out between the two groups.
How did the railroad benefit Western farmers most?
How did new railroads benefit western cattle ranchers?
They provided a way to transport meat to eastern markets
. They allowed cowboys to travel easily between cattle herds and their homes. They made it easier for ranchers to keep track of their herds.
What new technology changed life in the West?
Inventions helped determine the very shape of the West.
The telegraph
instantly connected Americans across thousands of miles; railroads killed some towns and gave birth to others; the gun quickly established the settlers’ dominance over the country; and barbed wire created vast ranching empires.
Why did homesteaders move west?
As settlers and homesteaders moved westward
to improve the land given to them through the Homestead Act
, they faced a difficult and often insurmountable challenge. The land was difficult to farm, there were few building materials, and harsh weather, insects, and inexperience led to frequent setbacks.
Did America move west for destiny?
Manifest Destiny
is the idea that it was the destiny of the United States to spread from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. United States lawmakers, enamored with this idea, helped extend the railroad and created incentives to send people west. In 1846, President James K.
What were the three main reasons for expansionism?
Reasons the U.S. tried to influence other nations: (1) Economic (2) Military (3) Moral. The primary reason the U.S. expanded its influence in foreign countries: Economic reasons – industrialization in the late 1800s
increased the need to trade with other countries
.
What were the 5 reasons for westward expansion?
- Gold rush and mining opportunities (silver in Nevada)
- The opportunity to work in the cattle industry; to be a “cowboy”
- Faster travel to the West by railroad; availability of supplies due to the railroad.
- The opportunity to own land cheaply under the Homestead Act.
Who was affected by the westward expansion?
The United States’ militant westward expansion in the 19th century profound affected
American Indians
and contributed to tensions over slavery.
How did westward expansion change people’s lives?
Westward expansion helped
to increase economic opportunities for those who stayed
in the East as well. The “opening” of the West gave Americans access to much more in the way of resources than they previously had. The new sources of metal ores, timber, and other things allowed the economy to grow.
What was life really like in the Old West?
Many people that lived in the Wild West actually
took up jobs in mining
, rather than spending their days working with livestock. 7) Living in this time period was lonely. There are claims that some people actually went crazy from the isolation of living in the West. 8) Horses led difficult lives in this era.
