What were the reasons for moving West?
Suggested Teaching Instructions
- Gold rush and mining opportunities (silver in Nevada)
- The opportunity to work in the cattle industry; to be a “cowboy”
- Faster travel to the West by railroad; availability of supplies due to the railroad.
- The opportunity to own land cheaply under the Homestead Act.
Why was the manifest destiny justified?
The concept of manifest destiny, coined by a newspaper editor, justified American expansion across the continent. The phrase “manifest destiny” suggested that expansion across the American continent was obvious, inevitable, and a divine right of the United States.
Why the United States was justified in the expansion of the 1800s?
Many people today believe that Manifest Destiny is wrong, but people in the 1800’s believed otherwise. Thanks to John O’Sullivan, Americans in the 1800’s believed that Manifest Destiny was their “God Given Right” to be able to acquire new land. This resulted in the westward expansion.
What are the positive effects of Manifest Destiny?
Pros of Manifest Destiny
- Manifest Destiny offered the chance for exploration.
- It paved the way for Americans to share their culture.
- Manifest Destiny increased goods, doubled the land area of the U.S., services, and wealth.
- It was good for trade and industry.
- Manifest Destiny Improvement of agriculture.
How did the government encourage westward expansion?
The War and Westward Expansion The Federal government responded with measures (Homestead Act, transcontinental railroad) and military campaigns designed to encourage settlement, solidify Union control of the trans-Mississippi West, and further marginalize the physical and cultural presence of tribes native to the West.
Why is the West Important?
Native Americans in the west resisted American intrusion and fought renewed wars in the early 19th century. Even among white settlers who benefited most from western migration, the expansion of the nation caused major alterations in American life. For instance, getting crops to market required improved transportation.
What impact did the Homestead Act have on westward expansion?
The Homestead Act encouraged western migration by providing settlers with 160 acres of land in exchange for a nominal filing fee. Among its provisions was a five-year requirement of continuous residence before receiving the title to the land and the settlers had to be, or in the process of becoming, U.S. citizens.
What was the Homestead Act and why was it important?
The Homestead Act of 1862 was one of the most significant and enduring events in the westward expansion of the United States. By granting 160 acres of free land to claimants, it allowed nearly any man or woman a “fair chance.”
What was the main goal of the Homestead Act?
The 1862 Homestead Act accelerated settlement of U.S. western territory by allowing any American, including freed slaves, to put in a claim for up to 160 free acres of federal land.
Who took advantage of the Homestead Act?
Thousands of women took advantage of the Homestead Act (1862) that offered free land in the American Great Plains. Women who were single, widowed, divorced, or deserted were eligible to acquire 160 acres of federal land in their own name. The law discriminated against women who were married.
How did the Homestead Act help the economy?
It ultimately helped create the most productive agricultural economy the world has ever seen. The lure of free land prompted millions of Europeans to immigrate to the United States in the years following the Civil War. Some left their homelands because of crop failures and economic depression.