Westward Expansion Essay -- essays research papers

WESTWARD EXPANSIONThe movement of people that has resulted in the stoppage of America is one of the most fascinating and significant topics in the narrative of the linked States. Nowhere else has an area of equal size been settled as a result of the initiative of small gatherings and individuals. Westward expansion helped bucket along the American economy.The first organized migration to California originated in Platte County, on the distant westbound frontier of Missouri. Reports described California as "a ideal paradise, a perpetual spring." The people of Platte County formed the Western Emigration Society, which move out information about California throughout the Mississippi valley (Wexler,139). Several merchant and landowners were concerned about the number of prospective emigrants that they launched a campaign disparaging California. This act proved to be effective, in 1842 and 1843 comparatively few emigrants followed the first migration to California. The fi rst wagon train was led by John 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. One 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 dire read/write head that even the government would not accept redbacks for payment of taxes. Other plans were act to get the republic fiscal house in order, but these plans achieved besides slightly better results. However, as the economy in the linked States change and the Texas annexation movement gained momentum, currency in Texas slowly recovered or so of its values before Texas was annexed in 1845(thewestpbs.org). Slavery was a big issue, legion(predicate) anti-slavery leaders came out strong against adding another potential slave maintain to the Union. The basic concerns were - war with Mexico and t he 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 hedged on his annexation position, was narrowly defeated by James Polk, a designer Tennessee senator who ran on a strong expansionist platform( Bender212). The Senate rejected the Texas annexation pact 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 discovery appeared in a San Francisco newspaper in mid-March, where it went mostly unnoticed (thewestpbs.org). By write the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, on February 2, 1848, ending the Mexican- American War. The United States acquired an immense western territory stretching from Texas to the Pacific and north to Oregon, which included Upper California, Utah. The United States gained 1.2 million squar e miles, virtually doubling its territory. The human cost for the United States was 13,238 killed and 4,152 wounded. (6) The United States agreed to pay $13 million for land and claim payment of $3.25 million in claims that American had brought against Mexico (Wexler,210).The United States from the days of license has adopted the project of extending its dominions, and since then, that line of policy has not deviated in the slightest degree. in that respect is still considerable movement of people westward. In most prise the movement lost its typical characteristics when there could no longer be said to be a frontier line.