Westward Expansion: Geographic and Economic Factors

SOL USI.8b: The student will demonstrate knowledge of westward expansion and reform in America from 1801 to 1861 by: b) identifying the geographic and

economic factors that influenced the westward movement of settlers

Reasons for Migration

1. Westward migration was influenced by GEOGRAPHY and ECONOMIC opportunity.

What Were Some of the Reasons for Westward Migration?

1. Population growth in the EASTERN states

2. Availability of CHEAP, FERTILE LAND.

What Were Some of the Reasons for Westward Migration?

3. Economic Opportunity: examples include gold (CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH) , logging, farming, and freedom (for runaway slaves)

The San Francisco Gold Rush

What Were Some of the Reasons for Westward Migration?

4. Cheaper and faster transportation, e.g., rivers and canals (ERIE CANAL), steamboats

What Were Some of the Reasons for Westward Migration?

5. Knowledge of overland trails (OREGON and SANTA FE)

6. Belief in the right of “MANIFEST DESTINY”

What was the “Manifest Destiny”?

• THE IDEA THAT EXPANISION WAS GOOD FOR THE COUNTRY AND WAS THE RIGHT OF THE UNITED STATES

“American Progress” by John Gast (1872)