Westward Expansion

Westward Expansion, occurring throughout the 19th century, was driven by the belief in Manifest Destiny, the idea that Americans were destined to expand across the continent. This period saw significant territorial acquisitions, including the Louisiana Purchase and the annexation of Texas, as well as conflicts with Native American tribes and foreign powers. The construction of railroads and the California Gold Rush catalyzed migration westward, leading to the establishment of new communities and the transformation of the American landscape. However, this expansion often came at a great cost to Indigenous peoples, whose lands and ways of life were irrevocably altered.