Westward Expansion Essay -- essays research papers

WESTWARD EXPANSIONThe movement of people that has resulted in the settlement of America is one of the approximately fascinating and significant topics in the history of the united States. Nowhere else has an area of equal size been sett lead as a result of the initiative of small groups and individuals. Westward enlargement helped stimulate the American economy.The first organized migration to California originated in Platte County, on the far double-uern frontier of Missouri. Reports described California as "a perfect paradise, a perpetual spring." The people of Platte County formed the Western exile Society, which sent out information about California throughout the disseminated multiple sclerosis Valley (Wexler,139). Several merchant and priming coatowners were concerned about the number of future emigrants that they launched a campaign disparaging California. This act proved to be effective, in 1842 and 1843 relatively few emigrants followed the first migration t o California. The first wagon train was led by buttocks Bidwell, the organizer of the Western Emigration Society. Bidwell let the pioneers across the Rockies, a party of 69 adults and children who divided into two groups after crossing. whizz group headed north into Oregon, while the other, led by Bidwell continued west to California.By 1842, the currency system of the Republic of Texas was in such frightful straits that even the government would not accept redbacks for payment of taxes. another(prenominal) plans were attempted to get the republic fiscal house in order, alone these plans achieved only slightly better results. However, as the economy in the United States improved and the Texas appropriation movement gained momentum, currency in Texas slowly corned some of its values before Texas was annexed in 1845(thewestpbs.org). Slavery was a big(a) issue, many anti- break ones backry leaders came out strong against adding another potential slave state to the conjugation . The basic concerns were - war with Mexico and the division over slavery(Remini). Clay argued against incorporating Texas into the Union when he was almost assured of the Whig Partys nomination for president. In the election Clay, who weasel-worded on his annexation position, was narrowly defeated by James Polk, a former Tennessee senator who ran on a strong expansionist platform( Bender212). The Senate rejected the Texas annexation treaty submitted by John Tyler in 1844. Tyler resubmitted... ...overed gold on the American River at Coloma while building a lumber mill for John Sutter, in the lower Sacramento Valley. A brief report of the uncovering appeared in a San Francisco newspaper in mid-March, where it went mostly unnoticed (thewestpbs.org). By signing the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, on February 2, 1848, ending the Mexican- American War. The United States acquired an abundant western territory stretching from Texas to the Pacific and north to Oregon, which included focal ratio California, Utah. The United States gained 1.2 million square miles, virtually doubling its territory. The human personify for the United States was 13,238 killed and 4,152 wounded. (6) The United States agreed to pay $13 million for land and assume payment of $3.25 million in claims that American had brought against Mexico (Wexler,210).The United States from the eld of independence has adopted the project of extending its dominions, and since then, that line of policy has not deviated in the slightest degree. There is still considerable movement of people westward. In most respects the movement lost its typical characteristics when there could no lasting be said to be a frontier line.