Westward Expansion
Definition
Westward Expansion is the movement of American settlers(colon) from the East to the West of the United States during the 19th century.
(déplacement des Américains vers l’Ouest au XIXᵉ siècle)
Main goals
- To get cheap or free land (terres peu chères ou gratuites)
- To find economic opportunities
- To become *farmers, miners, or traders(agriculteurs,mineurs,commercant)
- To expand the power of the United States
How did they move?
- By wagons
- Using trails like the Oregon Trail
The Pioneers
Who were they?
Pioneers were families and individuals who moved west to settle (s'installer)new lands.
Their life
- Long and dangerous journeys
- Lack of food and diseases (maladies)
- Hard work to build houses, farms, and towns
- Very isolated life
Important qualities
- Courage
- Determination
- Bravery
- Perseverance
Manifest Destiny
Definition
Manifest Destiny is the belief that Americans had a God-given mission to expand from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.
(croyance que Dieu voulait que les États-Unis s’étendent sur tout le continent)
Key ideas
- Expansion was inevitable
- Americans felt justified (se sentaient légitimes)
- Strong *religious and nationalist beliefs
Consequences of Westward Expansion
Positive consequences (for settlers)
- More land for farming
- Economic growth (croissance économique)
- Creation of new states
- New opportunities
Negative consequences (for Native Americans)
- Forced removals (déplacements forcés)
- Loss of land (perte des terres)
- Violence and wars
- Loss of culture and traditions
Important idea :
What was progress for settlers was a tragedy for Native Americans(amerindiens)