Explain why Americans moved west of the Mississippi River during the 1830s and 1840s, how they accomplished this, and where they moved to.

Americans moved west of the Mississippi River in the 1830s-40s for many reasons. One reason was the American people believed the Americans should control the land from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. This belief, called Manifest Destiny, encouraged the United States to acquire land and to have American people move to these lands. There was a belief that the American way of life was the best way of life, and therefore, the Americans...

Americans moved west of the Mississippi River in the 1830s-40s for many reasons. One reason was the American people believed the Americans should control the land from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. This belief, called Manifest Destiny, encouraged the United States to acquire land and to have American people move to these lands. There was a belief that the American way of life was the best way of life, and therefore, the Americans should control this land.

There were other reasons for the westward movement. Some people moved westward because they saw a great deal of economic opportunity. These people wanted to farm their own land or to start their own businesses. They believed the western lands were a golden area filled with many new economic opportunities. Some people were also looking for a sense of adventure. Moving westward fulfilled this desire for adventure. The Mormons moved to Utah in the hope that they could practice their religion without harassment.

Westward movement was accomplished in several ways. Texas was added to the United States in 1845. The United States fought Mexico in the Mexican-American War and gained a great deal of land from Mexico in 1848. The United States also divided the Oregon Territory with Great Britain. As more people moved to these western lands, railroads and roads were built to facilitate the westward movement. People moved to the Great Plains and also to the areas near the Pacific Ocean, such as Oregon and California. People also moved to areas where minerals were found. For example, California’s population grew dramatically when gold was discovered there.