In teams of 5 or 6 study the visuals and documents, complete analysis of the documents, discuss the findings. Answer the focus question by completing the grid, dividing responses into driving factors for territorial expansion and conflicts as a consequence.
POST your individual summary: chose one of the factors that had the most impact in driving territorial expansion and the idea of Manifest Destiny. Explain why the factor had the most impact. Explain the conflicts as a consequence. Be succinct and clear.
The main reason for expansion, I believe, is the Nationalism that the U.S has come to embrace. Between the exchange of goods with foreign nations, Japan, and opening that route of trade it has allowed us to grow, because the demand for our products both raw and finished is very high. In addition the Mexican war is also an example of Nationalism because we fought to gain more land and spread our culture. This was believed to only be accomplished by expanding sea to sea. However due to this war it weakens our economy as we try to pay off the war. That is where slavery takes shape as it is the main labor used for goods production. The South try to expand their version of nationalism (slavery) and it is fought by the North. All these benefits and issues is what makes the US what it is and how we were able to expand west.
ReplyDeleteI'm convinced that the main reason for land expansion was economics. With growing ideas and population money was very important and everyone wanted more. The best example of this is the California gold rush. Thousands of people flocked to California because it was basically free money and these people set up camp and stayed there. This being said California is the very end of north america so the land in between was also wanted for farming or plantations some wanted it for homes and factories. The south wanted more territory for slaves/plantations which gave them more money. For example the Kansas-Nebraska act aloud slaves in this area. Also as part of expanding for money Americans forced Japan to open it's ports to them. They were used as a fill up station on the way to China but also the Americans traded goods with them which gave them another way to make money. Therefore, expansion was based off of economics.
ReplyDeleteBrianna, I enjoyed reading your post and liked your evidence of the California Gold Rush to support your argument that the idea of Manifest Destiny was inspired by economical purposes.
DeleteThe ultimate factor that encouraged territorial expansion for the U.S. was the fact that there were so many economic possibilities arising in the western regions, specifically the coastal regions such as California and Oregon. Land in the west impacted the driving of territorial expansion the most as it had a promising outlook for financial security for the people of the United States. In the year of 1820, Stephan Austin received a land grant from the Mexican government which his son used to sell land to Americans; in the eyes of landless U.S. citizens, this introduced the opportunity to build farmlands and contribute to the economy. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago ended war with Mexico, Americans were able to acquire the American dream in prospects of gold when the discovery was found in 1848 by Johann A. Sutter. The Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf coasts served as natural trading routes with foreign countries, such as Japan, that expanded trade and fueled the economy. In the United States Magazine and Democratic Review, John O’Sullivan stated that "to overspread the continent" the "free development" of yearly multiplying millions" would be fostered and supplemented. With the populations among the states in the Union were rising, economic difficulties appeared and competition proved its existence as Americans struggled to obtain occupations. The west would not only support economic growth, but serve to ensure land for the rising populations. All these elements that existed in Western lands made American's feel inspired to pursue their economic desires to expand territorial boundaries. However, the consequences of obtaining lands in the west would open political conflicts as the question of slavery was battled between Northerners and Southerners. Southerners saw the annexing of California and Texas in ways of expanding slave labor while Northerners opposed it mainly due to reasons pertaining to market competition. Sectional conflicts over slavery was a major consequence in political affairs for many years that made government leaders fearful of disunion arising from people disputing over the question of slavery.
ReplyDeleteI find the sectionalist and nationalistic motives of the U.S. Government, and political parties combined to be the main factor to contribute to Western Expansion. The main political issue of the Mid-1800's was the growth of the struggle between Northern, and Southern states for complete imperialistic, power, and influence over politics in the U.S. Firstly, each group of states attempted to use the issue of slavery to their advantage. For example, following the depression from 1837 to 1843, fueled the North's desire to improve their economic status. So, they created The Free Soil Party, partly to grant those who they felt deserved it equal rights, but also to remove a portion of the South's state power, and all of the competition with slaves in the newer territories, won in the Louisiana Purchase, and Mexican War. Although this party didn't accomplish much, it increased Northern emigrating to areas like California, and did influence documents, such as the Wilmot Proviso, and Kansas-Nebraska Act, to some extent. Also, the northern states did advocate for forcibly incorporating Japan into American commerce, since Japan would receive, and pay for, the finished products that they created, while the South would profit very little, due to its inferior industry. In an attempt to overpower the influence of the North, however, the Southern states, along with President Polk, did much more to encroach upon Western lands. What President Polk did on his own was send troops into Mexico, so that the Southern states could blame the declaration of war on that particular country, when panic resulted in violence, which would allow the U.S. to take what it pleased-land. The desire for, and ability of the South to take all political and economic control is also reflected in documents and acts. Many Southerners, such as John Calhoun, strongly supported the belief that states must have a great multitude of right s that are protected by the federal government, and not removed, due to Northern opposition. and, so the Kansas- Nebraska At, allowing each state to determine whether or not it would be free, and the strengthened, more strictly enforced Fugitive Slave Act were adopted. These acts were also supported by many people, such as John O' Sullivan, who felt that the hierarchy of races was the key to the rise of the American empire. these individuals, and acts, reinforced the ideals of Manifest Destiny, which allowed the South to persuade the development of many new, slave-states. this allowed for the South to gain more political influence, and for some Southern planters to recover from soil exhaustion. In conclusion, the Sectionalist competition of North and South, which strengthened the ideals of Manifest destiny, caused various documents, and actions to take place, which hastened Western expansion.
ReplyDeleteHeather, Your argument is well supported with relevant evidence.
DeleteBased on the historical evidence, I am fairly certain that territorial expansion was due in part to economic strain during 1837. Which cause some to migrate west towards fertile areas such as Oregon's Willamette Valley, that offered settlers opportunity in the form of land. Through the settler's go and get it attitude they spread with them as they went, which is similar to the concept of Manifest Destiny ( It was the U.S destiny to expand). Another factor that led to territorial expansion was, as Brianna said, the California gold rush which brought a large group of diverse people to the west. Which also caused issues such as Committees of Vigilance and taxes during mid 1850s which caused many to be driven away. Along with a State Constitution in 1850 that limited freedom and therefore were consequences of conflicts in part of territorial expansion.
ReplyDeleteWhat you said about the go and get it attitude is very important, I think, as Americans definitely were embracing that independent, fend for yourself spirit.
DeleteThere were many motivating factors for westward expansion, but economic growth was the main one. The U.S. wanted the new land because they knew that their economy would value greatly from it. For example, there was this feeling that people could establish a new life when Sutter discovered gold in California. There were an immense amount of travelers from all over the world creating a diverse population in California but all of them had one goal, to achieve economic stability and make much money. The U.S. knew this and also wanted the rich ports of San Diego and San Francisco, to open up trade over the pacific. Furthermore, it wasn't just California it was also Texas and property owned by Mexico. We were already cultivating Texas like Stephen A. Austin and his ancestry. When Mexico tried to stop us we went to war and eventually Santa Anna's army crumpled and Winfeild Scott's forces took the capitol forcing the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. This new land would prove to be a great economic help for the U.S. opening up more fields and agriculture. In conclusion, the U.S. knew the economic opportunities to the west and took them, even war wouldn't stop them from gaining more land to fuel economic progress.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the major of evidence determining the most important factor of territorial expansion in 19th century American was economical growth. As the push westward to places of new opportunity such as Texas, Oregon, and California the American people were not the only ones who saw the finical benefit that brought. In the case of the California Gold Rush, thousands migrated to the Sierra Nevada Mountains for the possibility of easy riches, even harboring the land to secure themselves. The southern regions, also were driving to economical growth as well as wanted to expand westward especial for the increase of slavery and the production of raw materials and very much did with the Kansas-Nebraska Act which granted slavery into the two mid-west states. This however caused conflicts between the north and the south just as it did with Texas annexing which some had seen as for similar reasons of slavery expanding; this created a form of market competition and sectionalism in the states and would further grow the fear of disunion in the government.
ReplyDeleteThe main motivating factor of westward expansion was economics. The land the US received from Mexico was cheap and appealed to the settlers wishes for economic independence. A good example of this is the California Gold Rush. Thousands of young men left their families and jobs, the reason being they wanted to strike it rich. This coupled with the economic downturn of 1837 made the west very appealing. In the South, the plantations had exhausted their land and wanted to expand the Cotton Kingdom in order to keep their profits up. The conflicts that arose from this was the intense sectionalism between the North, who wanted the territories to be a place of free labor, and the South, who wished to further expand slavery.
ReplyDeleteWhat you said about the northern and southern sectionalism is very relevant; in our document that presented David Wilmot's support for the bill that banned slavery in new territory acquired in the West, his arguments were definitely more about keeping an edge in the Northern/Southern struggle for power than they were about actual abolitionist ideals.
DeleteKelly your argument about economic motivation is valid; however, the South was not for expanding Cotton Kingdom due to the area being too arid to grow a cotton crop.
DeleteOut of the many reasons there were for expanding west, I believe that the economy was the main reason. The rich, fertile farm land in the west had enormous economic opportunity. The Louisiana Purchase proves just how important this land was to America, because it was bought to make sure it was protected from Europe obtaining it and to make sure American farmers could get use out of the rich, fertile land. The California gold rush offered many people in the east hope that by going to the west, specifically to California, they would strike gold and become rich. This encouraged many people to leave behind their whole lives which caused a great increase in westward expansion. Manifest destiny was definitely a motivator for westward expansion because Americans were told that they were supposed to expand from sea to sea and then they had the opportunity to grab these rich fertile lands and when they took those opportunities they saw the boost in economy so this caused more and more westward expansion Also things such as the Monroe Doctrine helped to reinforce and promote the idea of Manifest Destiny because it said the U.S would expand westward into remaining uncolonized areas and this is exactly what America did.
ReplyDeleteTesla I agree that expansion westward was encouraged by the lure of land and opportunity; however, the Monroe Doctrine was not part of the continental territorial expansion but about the Western Hemisphere especially Latin America and the Americas.
DeleteAccording to the evidence, I'm believe that the main factor for westward expansion was economics. In this new land, there were new/more resources. Also, if there;s more land, there's more room for an abundance of people. An example of an economic motivation, and probably the main one, is the California Gold Rush. During the gold rush, thousands of Americans fled to California in order to gain wealth. The romanticizing of the west also caused a big flood of people, telling many to attempt to get rich themselves. Because of the abundance of land and resources, Americans were fairly happy. However, conflicts arose in many different places. The relationship between Americans and Native Americans was not a pleasant one and because of this expansion, many were once again pushed to the side. Another conflict was between the North and South. After acquiring this new land through the Louisiana Purchase and other various treaties, the South wanted to continue to grow slavery while the North wanted to abolish it.
ReplyDeleteAddie good argument that the romanticizing of the west was a lure. This is a valid point, what romantic evidence can be expanded to strengthen this argument.
DeleteThe main factor or cause of the westward expansion was economic. The Unites states population was rapidly growing and that meant a demand for goods also rose. Everyone needs to eat so the new land west was open for new farms. People also needed a place to live so they moved west to find land. Escaped slaves or African Americans also moved where the idea of abolition was more widely accepted. Then there was the discovery of gold in California which drew hundreds of people to flock all the way over to California in search for gold. The westward expansion was really everyone looking for their chance to make a fortune
ReplyDeleteLike Reece, I think nationalism was a huge driving force behind Westward expansion, however I also believe that the desire for more individual freedoms and individual gains were just as much a driving force. In Henry David Thoreau's "Resistance to Civil Government" he talks of democracy as not being the highest but still functional form of freedom possible; the people could live under an even more decentralized government. And moving West could allow them more individual freedom and prove to nonbelievers that the Americans would do better without a super centralized government. There were also people moving West for their own desires for economic prosperity. The Gold Rush in California is proof of that; a bunch of people searching for gold for themselves so they can better their own economic standing. Another reason that desire for more individual or at least state benefits were a driving force behind expansion is because if the Southerners established slavery in more new land, as they started in Texas, then the Northerners (abolitionists for the most part) would be losing an edge in their antislavery battle, or vice versa. Most people also believed that they were bringing prosperity to the West and helpfully 'enlightening' the Indians, so for some expanding westward could be an individual mission to better the continent and world in general.
ReplyDeleteI believe economics is the biggest factor in westward expansion. Particularly in the south, where they had damaged the quality of their land, westward expansion was essential. They needed more land for their plantations. However, since their targeted land was Texas, owned by Mexico at the time, conflict broke out. Further westward expansion in the north occurred as well. The California gold rush had inspired an enormous swarming of settlers entered California in search of wealth. However, before America was part of the Union, it was part of Mexico, and the U.S. decided to take it by force starting the Mexican-American war. America didn't stop expansion at the Pacific Ocean. It forced Japan to open up trade. This is a great example of America putting its economic interest above everything else. In conclusion, it's clear that the biggest reason for expansion was economic growth.
ReplyDeleteThe reason for western movement was due to economics. The economic crisis of 1837 sent settlers to the west in hopes of a farm on cheaper land. Then as time progressed there was a larger need for slave states due to the changing economy. The United States caturing Japan for trade caused an inceased demand for finished products. There was a higher need for raw materials to produce the finished goods. We can see a problem that this caused in Texas when they gained their independence from Mexico but waited several years before becoming part of the United States due to the slave issue.
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