


Why did Americans Expand to the West and What Impact did the Expansion have on Native Americans? U.S. History Br. Siraj Date: January 4, 2020
Reasons for Westward Expansion • Jefferson’s dream of having an “empire of liberty.” • Louisiana Purchase • Others believed in a “manifest destiny” • Belief that United States is destined to be expanded to the Pacific Ocean and into the Mexican Territory. • Others moved because of practical reasons • To have a fresh start in the West after 1837’s economic panic • Farmers and miners moved to grab more land • Merchants looked for opportunities to trade with Asia.
Problems with Native Americas • Some Native Americans tried to maintain strong cultural traditions • Some Native Americans began to assimilate • Others Resisted • Black Hawk War involving Sauk and Fox tribes, ended in 1832 • Some Cooperation • At Middle Ground • Treaty to Stop Conflict • Treaty of Fort Laramie • Government agreed to honor the boundaries • But it violated the conditions of the treaty
Routes to Westward Migration • Santa Fe Trail • Independence, MO to Santa Fe, NM • Used mostly by traders • The Oregon Trail • Independence, MO to Portland, OR. • Farmer settlers used this trail
Role of Mormons in Settling the West • Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints established by Joseph Smith • They moved from NY to Nauvoo, Illinois. • Brigham Young took the Mormons to further west out of the US territory. • Settled in the Salt Lake Valley • Turn the desert into farmland • Salt Lake City Blossomed
Territorial Dispute • Oregon Territory was claimed by both Britain and United States • Fifty-Four Forty or Fight slogan to gain the entire Oregon. • The boundary was settled in 1846.
Homework • Questions 1, 2 and 3 on page 285