The Transformation Of The American West
The Transformation of the American West
The transformation of the American West was both good and bad. In 1840, people began to trek from the east to the west coast of the united states. They encountered native Americans, and forced them out of their lands. This was done to take over the land gained from other countries in the recent decades. It was both good and bad that our ancestors decided to journey to the west.
In 1840, people began to organize themselves to go on treks. Such treks were long and arduous journeys into the north American west to tame and civilize the land. Such treks include: The Mormon pioneer trek, the Oregon trail, the Santa fe trail, and the California trail. This was a hopeful time, and as John O’ Sullivan wrote, “We are the nation of progress, of individual freedom, or universal enfranchisement. Our future history will be to establish on earth the moral dignity and salvation of man-- the undeniable truth and goodness of God.” Sadly, just before these hopeful, adventurous treks, the natives already living there had to be removed. …show more content…
This act removed them from their homes west of the river Mississippi. It also gave them new lands, but had the side effect of forcing them to march the trail of tears. A quote from a survivor of the “trail of tears” “One each day, and all are gone. Looks like maybe all dead before we get to new Indian country, but always we keep marching on. Women cry and make sad wails. Children cry, and many men cry, and all look sad when friends die, but they say nothing and just put heads down and keep on toward west...” Sadly, we forced men and women, our own brothers and sisters, to take part in this forced movement. The land we took from the native Americans already living there was received to us from other
The transformation of the American West was both good and bad. In 1840, people began to trek from the east to the west coast of the united states. They encountered native Americans, and forced them out of their lands. This was done to take over the land gained from other countries in the recent decades. It was both good and bad that our ancestors decided to journey to the west.
In 1840, people began to organize themselves to go on treks. Such treks were long and arduous journeys into the north American west to tame and civilize the land. Such treks include: The Mormon pioneer trek, the Oregon trail, the Santa fe trail, and the California trail. This was a hopeful time, and as John O’ Sullivan wrote, “We are the nation of progress, of individual freedom, or universal enfranchisement. Our future history will be to establish on earth the moral dignity and salvation of man-- the undeniable truth and goodness of God.” Sadly, just before these hopeful, adventurous treks, the natives already living there had to be removed. …show more content…
This act removed them from their homes west of the river Mississippi. It also gave them new lands, but had the side effect of forcing them to march the trail of tears. A quote from a survivor of the “trail of tears” “One each day, and all are gone. Looks like maybe all dead before we get to new Indian country, but always we keep marching on. Women cry and make sad wails. Children cry, and many men cry, and all look sad when friends die, but they say nothing and just put heads down and keep on toward west...” Sadly, we forced men and women, our own brothers and sisters, to take part in this forced movement. The land we took from the native Americans already living there was received to us from other