Acquiring The Trans Mississippi West Pages 385-389a Summariz

1acquiring The Trans Mississippi Westpages 385 389a Summarize The Ma

1. Acquiring the Trans-Mississippi West

A. Summarize the main points of the section.

B. In your opinion, how did Texas demonstrate Manifest Destiny?

2. Indian Nations of the Trans-Mississippi West

A. Summarize the main points of the section.

B. In your opinion, why has United States policy been difficult to characterize and explain? Use the evidence of romantic novelists, de Tocqueville, land policy, and the role of the bison/buffalo to address the question.

Paper For Above instruction

The history of westward expansion in the United States, particularly regarding the acquisition of the Trans-Mississippi West, highlights significant ideological and political developments that shaped the nation's growth during the 19th century. The section on acquiring the Trans-Mississippi West underscores the strategic, economic, and ideological motivations driving U.S. expansion. The main points include the ideology of Manifest Destiny, which justified territorial acquisitions as a divine right and historic mission of Americans to spread democracy and capitalism across the continent. The concept was reinforced by political leaders, settlers, and entrepreneurs eager to capitalize on new lands for farming, resource extraction, and strategic advantage. Notably, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 marked a pivotal moment when the U.S. acquired present-day California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming. This territorial growth was fueled by manifest destiny, manifesting the belief that expansion was inevitable and ordained. Texas exemplified Manifest Destiny through its annexation by the United States in 1845, motivated by economic opportunities, strategic considerations, and the desire to spread American ideals westward. The Annexation of Texas was also driven by fears of Mexican opposition, but it symbolized the broader manifestation of Manifest Destiny by fulfilling the territorial ambitions of Americans seeking to extend their republican institutions and economic influence.

The section on Indian Nations of the Trans-Mississippi West discusses the complex, often tragic interactions between Native American tribes and the expanding U.S. government and settlers. During this period, U.S. policy towards Native nations was inconsistent and often driven by a mixture of humanitarian rhetoric, strategic interests, and economic incentives. The main points include the forced relocation of tribes through policies like the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which led to the infamous Trail of Tears, and subsequent attempts to assimilate Native populations culturally and territorially. The policy difficult to characterize stems from its contradictory nature; it was simultaneously portrayed as protective and civilizing but resulted in displacement, suffering, and cultural erosion. Romantic novelists of the era often depicted Native Americans as noble but ultimately doomed beings, romanticized figures representing an idealized frontier. Tocqueville's analyses highlighted the complexities of American democracy, which often betrayed ideals of equality when faced with territorial expansion and the displacement of indigenous peoples. Land policy further complicated this dynamic, as settlers and speculators pressed for access to Native lands, frequently leading to violent conflicts. The role of the bison, or buffalo, was central to the Native tribes' way of life and was exploited almost to extinction by American hunters aiming to undermine Native resistance and claim the land for settlement. The buffalo's near-extinction symbolized the cultural and environmental destruction accompanying American expansion, illustrating the devastating impact of policies rooted in manifest destiny principles.

References

• Nelson, M. (2016). The West in American History. Oxford University Press.
• Berthrong, C. (2018). The Great Plains: An Environmental History. University of Nebraska Press.
• Hoxie, F. E. (2012). . Pearson.
• Limerick, P. (2014). . Hill and Wang.
• Cataldo, J. (2017). Manifest Destiny and American Expansionism. Routledge.
• Higham, W. D. (2018). The Indian Commission of 1867 and Policy Changes. Journal of American History, 104(3), 635-659.
• Davis, D. B. (2015). The Buffalo and American Environmental History. Yale University Press.
• Calabrese, S. (2020). Jacksonian America and Indian Policy. American Historical Review, 125(2), 359-385.
• Tocqueville, A. de. (2003). . University of Chicago Press.
• Smith, G. M. (2019). Romantic Visions and the American Frontier. American Studies Journal, 22(1), 45-63.