Transcontinental Nation Research Paper

The United States was not always a united nation. Before the United States became what it is today, it had been just thirteen colonies. Those colonies transformed from a united country into something more, a transcontinental nation, with the help of many events.Though deaths and sacrifices were made in the process, it helped shape the transcontinental nation.
The thirteen colonies went from a new independent country to a transcontinental nation because of the economic improvements, the War of 1812, and the westward expansion. Economic improvements helped the transformation into a transcontinental nation in a big way. The ways were the use of the National Bank and the American System, as well as the First Industrial Revolution. The National Bank was proposed by, then Treasurer,
Alexander Hamilton. The National Bank would control government finances. It would also
"performed the basic banking functions of accepting deposits, issuing bank notes, making loans and purchasing securities." (National Bank History). The American System is "consisted of three mutually reinforcing parts: a tariff to protect and promote American industry; a national bank to foster commerce; and federal subsidies for roads, canals, and other "internal improvements" to develop profitable markets for agriculture." (Senate Historical Office).
The
American System became a main focus in the Whig Party opposition against Andrew
Jackson. The First Industrial Revolution greatly helped the transformation. When Samuel
Slater brought his ideas from Britain the idea of the cotton mill was thought of and built in
Massachusetts. The cotton mill was powered by water, which would be used in future buildings in that time. "The concentration of industry in the Northeast also facilitated the development of transportation systems such as railroads and canals, which encouraged commerce and trade." (The Industrial Revolution in the United States). These economic improvements pushed the thirteen colonies one step closer to a transcontinental nation. The War of 1812 played a major role in shaping the thirteen colonies. The contributing factors of the War of 1812 included the Unfinished Revolution, Tecumseh, and Great Britain.
A result of the War of 1812 was Americans gaining nationalism. "Most importantly,
America’s independence and status in the world were reaffirmed, never again to be seriously challenged." (The Unfinished Revolution). Tecumseh was a brigadier­general in the British army. He led his tribe and British soldiers into some of the numerous battles during the War of
1812. "Britain had the advantage of support from her Indian allies, while the Indians had a final opportunity to strike at the old enemy without having to stand alone." (The War of 1812 and Tecumseh).
Tecumseh 's advances with the British army proved a challenge for the
Americans, but afterwards, shaped the thirteen colonies. Great Britain gave the thirteen colonies countless problems. From high taxes to impressing sailors to violating rights,
America had to declare war. Great Britain acted as a bully to the colonies and would not stop bullying them. Eventually, bullies have to be stood up to, which is why America decided to declare war on Great Britain and ended up defeating them. The westward expansion was the last way the thirteen colonies was shaped into a transcontinental nation. The Louisiana Purchase, Texas Revolution, and the
Mexican­American War were the contributors in the westward expansion. The

Mexican­American War was a pointless war. It was over and argument over where Texas ended. Mexico claimed that Texas ended at the Nueces River while the U.S. claimed the Rio
Grande. "The war—in which U.S. forces were consistently victorious—resulted in the United
States’ acquisition of more than 500,000 square miles (1,300,000 square km) of Mexican territory extending westward from the Rio Grande to the Pacific Ocean."
(Mexican­American
War). The Texas Revolution was a revolution that started because Mexicans rebelled against the Mexican government. Santa Anna 's actions are some of what led to the Revolution.
"When Stephen Austin went to Mexico City to try to settle the Texans ' grievances, Santa Anna imprisoned him in a Mexican jail for a year... A majority of colonists hoped to attract the support of Mexican liberals in a joint effort to depose Santa Anna and to restore power to the state governments, hopefully including a separate state of Texas." (Texas Revolution). Santa
Anna gathered a unimpressive army and marched to the Alamo to battle a war with Texans, led by William Travis and Jim Bowie, with the help of David Crockett. The battle at the Alamo lasted 13 days and the Texans won. In the events that affected the thirteen colonies, all were huge contributors. From economic improvements to the westward expansion. These events led to the thirteen colonies becoming a transcontinental nation. Had these events not have happened, our nation today may still be only thirteen colonies in an independent country.

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