American Westward Expansion was Inevitable

The Louisiana Purchase

1803

This land acquisition doubled the size of the U.S. and made the country stronger. Because gaining more land would continue to make the country stronger, westward expansion became the only option.

The Missouri Compromise

1820

During this time, the slave states and free states were constantly trying to prevent eachother from dominating the country. This led to each side gaining more territory in an effort to outnumber or balance out its opponent. One situation was the Missouri Compromise which involved keeping Maine a free state and Missouri a slave state. To maintain this balance, the country had to keep expanding West and add more states.

Andrew Jackson Becomes President

1829

Andrew Jackson's presidency changed American opinions. He expressed his hatred for Native Americans by enforcing the Indian Removal Act. He was also known for murdering them. Since he was the president, his opinions influenced the thinking of many Americans. In this way, it became acceptable to take land in the West from Native Americans.

Americanization of Texas

1830

Texas used to belong to Mexico, but when Americans began living there, American culture greatly began to influence the state. By the 1830s, Texas was occupied mostly by Americans and the Mexican culture started dying out. Because of this, many Americans did not see a reason for following the government of Mexico and later won independence. In this way, the acquisition of Texas was unavoidable because of Americanization.

Manifest Destiny

1845

The belief that Americans automatically had the right to settle the land in Western America. When this idea was introduced, it became so strong that people were willing to go through anything to settle the West. Many people also liked the idea of having their own farms - something that Western land could provide.

The Mormon Trail

1847

Unlike those wanting land, the Mormons came to settle in the West because of religious persecution. In the Eastern states, the Mormons were being persecuted for their faith so they set out on a journey to settle in the West. This journey became known as the Mormon Trail. Since their homes were unsafe, Westward Expansion became inevitable.

Transcontinental Railroad

1869

This railroad ran from the east coast to the west coast of America. Although land in the west had already been settled, this railroad was still vital for Westward Expansion. It provided a quick way to transport people, leading to an increase in population and settlements in the West.