Expnasionism of Mid 19th Century

Expansionism of mid 19th Century

With the election of president, James K. Polk, the notion of Manifest Destiny began to make its way through America. The idea insisted that it was in gods will to pursue the west coast of present day United States. The statement "Manifest Destiny of the mid- 1800s proved to be just as controversial as it was beneficial for our nation" is an extremely invalid assertion. The newly adapted concept (Manifest Destiny) started to prove that America was a Global Power. Manifest Destiny expanded our borders, prompted economic growth, and led to the advancement of the railroad system.

The westward expansion led America to have an increase in the quality of the economy. The Gold Rush gave those who had previously failed and lived in poverty on the east a new beginning in the west. The movement westward, created jobs and industry, that stimulated the American infrastructure. The growth sparked the opportunity for some to open businesses to meet the needs of the miners. With people gaining more funds they were able to output more back into the American Market.

The newly acquired land approximately doubled the area of the United States. With the increase in land America appeared to also have a rise in the ranks of world power. We were getting our way with England (one of the worlds most powerful nations) in the recent land negotiations over Oregon and Maine. Moreover, America also had a population boom. Immigrants from afar were coming to our western border with the hopes of making a living by finding gold in the ground.

More territory meant there needed to be a way to transport goods from both sides of the country. The previous statement inspired the construction of the Transcontinental railroad. The transcontinental railroad would connect the East Coast of the United States to the West. Thus allowing manufactured goods to be distributed to and from both sides