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Louisiana Purchase
The United States purchase the Louisiana Territory from France for 15 million dollars, doubling the size of the nation over night. Because of this huge acquisition, a lot more territory was available for colonization, nearly necessitating further westward development. -
Lewis and Clark Expedition
President Thomas Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark to map out a path to the Pacific Ocean and investigate the recently acquired western regions. By mapping out the western territories and offering useful information, the exploration encouraged more people to move westward and suggested that expansion was becoming inevitable as new opportunities were found. -
Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act was signed by President Andrew Jackson. It forced Native American tribes to relocate west of the Mississippi River. The government's deliberate policy of clearing native Americans from their ancestral lands indicated that expansion was also supported by federal laws. -
Oregon Trail Migration
Along the Oregon Trail, thousands of American immigrants made their way westward in search of better possibilities in the Pacific Northwest. The west saw a large-scale settlers migration, indicating a growing demand for resources and land, indicating that the population's demands were driving expansion. -
Texas Annexation
After gaining independence from Mexico, Texas was Annexed by the United States, bringing it into the Union. The annexation of Texas expanded the nations borders and further fueled the drive to acquire additional territory, particularly in the southwest. -
Mexican-American War
The war between the U.S. and Mexico ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidago, which resulted in the U.S. acquiring California, Arizona, New Mexico, and other parts of the Southwest -
The California Gold Rush
California had a tremendous influx of settlers in 1848 after gold was discovered there, changing the state and speeding up western expansion. Thousands were drawn to the West by the promise of money and opportunity, which strengthened the perception that the country's growth into the area was unstoppable.