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Motivations for Westward Expansion

Motivations for Westward Expansion. Objective 4.01. Why move West?. Claim land for settlement New markets for commerce Provide homes for millions of Americans including immigrants Locate harbors on the Pacific. Con’t. Seek employment-avoid creditors-Spread the virtues of Democracy

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Motivations for Westward Expansion

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  1. Motivations for Westward Expansion Objective 4.01

  2. Why move West? • Claim land for settlement • New markets for commerce • Provide homes for millions of Americans including immigrants • Locate harbors on the Pacific

  3. Con’t • Seek employment-avoid creditors-Spread the virtues of Democracy • Gold Rush

  4. Frederick Jackson Turner • American Historian • Westward expansion most important factor in creating the American

  5. How did they get there? • Transcontinental Railroads (Met at Promontory Point, Utah) • Two major companies: Union Pacific and Central Pacific • Workers on the railroads: • Civil War Veterans • Irish and Chinese Immigrants • African Americans • Mexican Americans

  6. Homestead Act of 1862 • Settlers could claim land of up to 160 acres for a $10 fee • Gave legal recognition of a persons land in the Great Plains and more wanted to come • Wanted to relieve the dense population of immigrants in the east

  7. Comstock Lode • Henry Comstock staked a claim in Nevada in 1859 to find that the mud was almost pure silver ore • Prospectors flooded into the area—became a city of wealth • 1859-1878—yielded about $400 million in silver and gold

  8. Brought many advancements in mining technology • Decline began in 1874 and by 1898 the town was a “ghost town”

  9. Virginia City, NV

  10. Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889 • Most famous of all land runs • Federal govt. gave up land to homesteaders • At noon on April 22nd, TX and AK borders were lined with settlers • Hunt for land so fierce that some were killed

  11. People in the West—Roles of Women • Had to be resourceful • Job was to • Raise the children • Run the household—food & clothing • Establish schools and churches in some instances

  12. Roles of African Americans • West offered new homes, new beginnings, and new opportunities to enjoy freedom • Exodusters • “Black Towns” sprang up

  13. Worked as • Cattle drivers • Miners • Railroad workers • Farmers

  14. Roles of Irish • Mass immigration—1840s • Met with resistance • Many went west for the new opportunities • Did the hard jobs—building bridges and railroads • Built a reputation for being hard-working

  15. Roles of Chinese • Not welcomed! • Proved to be essential to growth through • Railroads • Farming • Mining • Servants (mostly men) • Doctors (herbalists)

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