USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Gold rush and mining opportunities (silver in Nevada) The opportunity to work in the cattle industry; to be a “cowboy” Faster travel to the West by railroad; availability of supplies due to the railroad. The opportunity to own land cheaply under the Homestead Act.

Detailed explanation-2: -Manifest Destiny, a phrase coined in 1845, is the idea that the United States is destined-by God, its advocates believed-to expand its dominion and spread democracy and capitalism across the entire North American continent.

Detailed explanation-3: -The main argument against westward expansion in the United States was that it would spread slavery into new territories instead of keeping it isolated to certain portions of the South. Slavery began to be adopted in some of these newly formed territories, including Louisiana, Texas, and New Mexico.

Detailed explanation-4: -Social Reasons Anglos believed that they are bringing civilization, democracy and technology to the west. Americans associate land ownership with wealth, individualism, political power and independent “self-rule.” The United States population has grown dramatically due to European immigration.