Importance Of Westward Expansion

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Countries require agriculture in order to meet the food demand for their populations. Underlying the Westward Expansion was this idea that urged President Thomas Jefferson to purchase Louisiana from the French. The Westward Expansion was a part of the growth experience of the United States (Vandenbroucke 81). Also, the Westward Expansion did not affect only the United States (Vandenbroucke 81). Most were attracted by the economies opportunities they expected to find there and, in particular, the possibility to acquire land in the western part of the United States (Vandenbroucke 81). Even though the US was experiencing land constraints, it sought to expand westwards to trigger economic growth and accommodate its rising population. There are various factors the provide evidence regarding the need for Westward Expansion. To begin, a review of the map of the Westward Expansion demonstrates that the major cities were …show more content…

On that note, as of 1860, there were some unorganized territories in the west, while the structured ones were yet to be admitted to the Union. However, by 1870, the Westward Expansion eliminated the former, except for one. The growth resulted in the admission of more territories to the Union, where only four remained independent as of 1890 (“Westward Expansion”). The changes in the political structures of the western territories were attributed to the fact that the expansion performed an integral role in remodeling the national and ethnic identities of the residents (Brady 485). For example, the Indian populations became civilized as they abandoned their traditions for modernity, including education, a new code of dressing, and democratic leadership. Overall, the Westward Expansion increased the political power of the U.S. because new territories were admitted into the union, which provided enhanced access to resources; hence, it triggered economic

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