Geographic Changes
Dec 14, 2015
In 1804, Lewis & Clark left St. Louis, MO for their journey to the Pacific OceanThey discovered new plants & animals; met new Native American tribes; found remains of a dinosaur
2 years & 4 months later, they arrived back to St. Louis; their journey helped promote western settlement
1803—Jefferson bought Louisiana from French for $15 millionPushed western boundary of US to Rocky Mtns.
Jefferson had vision of “empire of liberty”
Many criticized JeffersonCountry didn’t need more undeveloped land
Purchase unconstitutional
Reasons for National ExpansionPop. Growing
rapidlyLess good farmland
in eastMake country less
vulnerable to foreign attack
Appealed to sense of nationalism
In 1840’s—Combo of nationalism + expansionism = Manifest DestinyObvious fate– it seemed obvious to Americans that
US was meant to spread ideals of democracy across continent & beyond
Inspired further expansion1819—Spain cedes FL to US1845—TX joins Union after gaining independence
from Mexico1846—US signs treaty with GB for Oregon Country1846—Mexican-American War—result, US gets
most of SW1853—Gadsden Purchase—added part of AR & NM
US Westward expansion bad for Native Americans As US added new territory, N. Americans forced to give
up lands American settlers 1830—Congress passes Indian Removal Act
Clear N. Americans from lands E of MississippiMove tribes to OK TerritorySome tribes went along with removal—others
resisted Cherokees fought legally—said Act violated earlier
treatiesWorchester v. Georgia—Court upheld treaties,
Jackson ignored ruling Tribes that resisted were moved by force
1838—Trail of Tears—4,000 died of disease, starvation & harsh weather
As US expanded—3 sections of country—North, South, West—begin to develop different identities Influenced by geography & settlers
NorthIn NE, poor soil & harsh winters
caused people to engage in commerce, shipbuilding & fishing for $
Other places, most Northerners farmed for a living
By mid-1800’s—many moving to cities to work in mills & factories
Immigrants coming to US move to Northern cities for jobs.
SouthMild climate & rich soil makes
agriculture the center of southern economy
Most southerners small farmers—plantation agriculture starting to become more importantPlantation owners relied on slave
labor to grow cash cropsNot everyone owned slaves