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Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act forced Indians to move to western territories past the Mississippi, which created excess western land that could be occupied by white settlers. This allowed us to continue moving west and pursuing "Manifest Destiny". The result of this act led to the increase of slave labor as there was now more land for settlers to cultivate and they needed hard laborers to work their fields. It just so happened that African-American slaves fit that requirement very well for the settlers. -
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The Battle of the Alamo
The Battle of the Alamo was a battle for Texas' independence from Mexico. This impacted Western Expansion as it was a Western territory that later became a part of the United States. A Mexican army led by General Antonio López de Santa Anna advanced north to suppress the rebellion. The general demanded immediate surrender of the Texans and in response, the Texans opened fire on the Mexicans. The Mexicans responded by ordering a 13-day siege that was not successful as the Texans never gave in. -
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Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears was the product of the Indian Removal Act which allowed the United States to forcefully move the Natives into western territories. They were forced onto a grueling path that many died on as they marched to western territory that allowed white settlers to capture cultivated lands as they continued their journies out west. This included around 15,000 Cherokees in late 1838. In the cold winter conditions, nearly 4,000 Cherokee died while trying to walk the full 1,000 miles -
Oregon Trail
The 1840's saw a desire to move into lands in Oregon so they could settle and grow the cities inside of it. The path that people took to get there was called the Oregon Trail. This trail was very dangerous as many died but it was justified as it was a largely impactful part of western expansion as people took it for the sole goal of moving out west. The total amount of people that traveled this trail and died, totaled about 186. People on this trail often faced disease, crime, and poor weather. -
Texas Joins the United States
During this time Texas joined the United States. This was very impactful for westward expansion as the state of Texas is vast and has a lot of land to offer. Also, Texas was considered western land. This contributed to the tensions between the North and South as Texas was still determining policies on how they believed that their state should address the slavery issue. This led to greater tensions between the two and later evolved into warfare between the Union and the Confederacy. -
Manifest destiny
Journalist John O'Sullivan uses the term "Manifest Destiny" to describe Western Expansion which influenced the view of it, as more people wanted to move out west. It was seen as a patriotic action that helped us reach our destiny. O'Sullivan had used this phrase to support the annexation of Texas and the Oregon Country into the United States. This later was not just a phrase but a movement for prominent figureheads of the United States. -
Oregon Treaty
The Oregon Treaty was when Britain agreed to give up western territory in what is today Oregon. These lands were located in the far west. The treaty, signed in 1846, established a clear boundary between the United States and British Canada in the Pacific Northwest. This allowed for American settlers to move westward with certainty, knowing where their territory began and ended. This increased the confidence of the travelers and was one less obstacle, making it easier to move west. -
Brigham Young Leads His People to Utah
Brigham Young led over 5,000 Mormons to Utah, which was a western state at the time. This increased the American desire to venture to the new western lands and increased our desire to continue growing towards the western side of what is now America. Over the next two decades, thousands of Mormon immigrants followed Young’s trail, establishing settlements in Utah. It impacted Manifest Destiny as it stabilized a part of the west and gave people an example to follow. -
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Mexican-American War
The Mexican-American war was the product of tensions between the two after Texas joined the United States. The United States ended the war after agreeing to a deal to purchase territories for cheaper than the original asking price. These territories form what is now known as California, Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. The one thing they all have in common is that they are all western states. This was a dramatic product that was accomplished the desire for westward expansion. -
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California Gold Rush
People were catching wind that there was gold that could be mined in California. This led to people from all over the nation rushing to California, trying to become rich. Many people failed and were either too broke or ashamed to return to their homes. This led to a population boom in western territories, specifically California. By the end of the 1850s, roughly $550 million worth of gold had been mined. This newfound wealth helped to fuel the expansion and settlement of the western state.