Development of the West

Development of the West

The development of the West was vital and imminent in the years to come during the gilded age. It affected many types of people, Native Americans, Whites, and women, some for better and for worse. Although the industrialization of western lands was beneficial for the Americans, it played a large role in the continuous tense relationship with the Native Americans. The natural environment played a large role in how and when the United States would industrialize. The control and ownership of the Western land occurred because of a few of our former presidents; Zachary Taylor, and James Polk. These presidents led us to the control of the Annexation of Texas, and to the wars we had with Mexico. The wars with Mexico were crucial to ownership of much of the western United States. James Polk's idea of "Manifest Destiny" was very influential into beginning these wars, and eventually succeeding in them.

The construction of the first transcontinental railroad began in the year 1863, during the American civil war. This railroad was designed in order to transport goods, resources, and products from western businesses to the east and vise versa. Although this helped the Americans economy, it affected the lives of the Indians. The way a railroad can be built is if there isn't anything to get in its way. The thing that got in the way of the railroads was the Indians food, the buffalo. The Americans killed off the buffalo, an animal with many uses to them. The animal provides clothes and meat for the Indians, and getting rid of the entire herd greatly upset them. This brought more tension between the Indians and Americans. This railroad was designed to influence easterners to migrate west. We knew that Lincoln supported of western migration with his Homestead Acts. These acts stated that anyone moving west is entitled up to160 acres of land. These acts however were not given to the Southerners