Westward Expansion in America

Westward Expansion

• Westward expansion in America involved various causes and events, including the War of 1812, the burning of the Capitol and White House, and the writing of "The Star Spangled Banner".
• The impact of westward expansion on American Indians involved actions like the Trail of Tears, the Battle of Little Bighorn, and forced relocation to reservations. Primary and secondary sources are crucial to understand these events
• Territorial expansions, such as the Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis and Clark expedition, and acquisitions of Texas, Oregon, and California (Gold Rush), are key elements of the period. Learning about these events requires understanding primary and secondary sources to draw conclusions.
• Important physical features relate to westward expansion, including the Atlantic Coastal Plain, Great Plains, Continental Divide, Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi River, and the Great Lakes.
• Man-made features, including Washington, D.C., and the Erie Canal, are also essential to understanding the expansion.
• Physical barriers like terrain hindered westward expansion but physical gateways, such as waterways, allowed for easier passage.
• Opportunity cost and decision-making, across time, are related to settling in the West.
• Understanding issues and/or problems and alternative solutions are important
• How price incentives affect people's behavior and choices, such as cotton and tobacco production, are key factors
• The impact of westward expansion on different economies, like the North and South, are included. 
• Technological advancements, like the cotton gin, steamboat, steam locomotive, and telegraph, had a significant impact on productivity.
• Economic concepts, like trade, opportunity cost, specialization, voluntary exchange, productivity, and price incentives, played key roles
• Factors such as trade between the U.S. and Europe, or the U.S. and Canada impacted the expansion
• Understanding the war of 1812 is important in understanding the causes and events of westward expansion
• The Louisiana Purchase significantly expanded the size of the United States, granting control of the mouth of the Mississippi River.
• The Lewis and Clark Expedition explored new territory. The purpose of this expedition included charting a water route to the Pacific Ocean, and documenting new plants, animals, the climate, and the people.
• The process of acquiring Texas involved the American settlers and the Mexican government and ultimately, Texas declared independence from Mexico
• The creation of the Oregon Trail facilitated access to the Oregon Territory. The difficulties of crossing the Continental Divide were a major factor.
• The California Gold Rush in 1849 drew thousands westward to find riches, creating boomtowns and settlements.
• Trail of Tears involved the forced relocation of American Indians in the Southeast to reservations in what is now Oklahoma. This forced removal was disputed in the courts
• The Battle of Little Bighorn involved conflict between the U.S. Army and Native Americans over forced relocation to reservations.

American Indian Experience

• Many American Indians died from diseases carried by settlers
• Decrease in the buffalo population impacted Indian survival.
• Some religious practices were declared illegal by the U.S. government.
• Children could not speak their native languages or wear their traditional clothing at reservation schools
• The impact of the forced removal of American Indians is a major factor in understanding the time period
• The Trail of Tears, a forced relocation, is crucial, marked by the Cherokee travel.

New Technologies

• Steamboat, locomotive, and telegraph advanced trade, communication, and travel, opening up new frontiers, and establishing faster ways to move goods and people.

Economic Indicators

• Pioneers facing opportunity cost decisions
• Price and incentive effects
• Cotton and the cotton gin