Why was westward expansion so crucial to the new American nation in the period 1789-1825?
...he ocean and some of the fruitful land surrounding it. However, when approaching Napoleon and the French Jefferson got an unexpected response. Instead of renting land around the river and hiring the use of the river itself, they managed to ascertain the entire French Empire. In July of 1803, for only $15,000,000 Jefferson bought the whole of Louisiana. It double the size of the current ‘empire’ American already had. Nevertheless, Jefferson maintained the fact that America was not an empire. He believed that empires were not for the New World, and that all Americans opposed them. Furthermore, Jefferson states that he is not ruling like an empire, he explains that he is not imposing anything on anyone and that the way they rule is through imperialism. He states, “empire for freedom” which is a complete oxymoron because there is no freedom in an empire. Additionally, the Declaration of Independence of 1776 stated their freedom from all, to “pursue happiness”. This establishment of a non-empiric nation was at the foreground of people’s minds, and it allowed them to feel a sense of unity within the newly acquired land. Although America had almost doubled its land capacity, some kind of order was needed. Jefferson envisages the population being governed from the centre. He wanted people to believe in freedom, religion and prosperity, and to explore Louisiana. As Marshall Smelser states, “Thomas Jefferson had done a great deed. It is now regarded as the chief constructive act of his presidency.” This refers to the importance of the expansion into Louisiana and that it was a progressive action from Jefferson, which set America up for the future. This was not just what he foresaw, he wanted to explore to the shores of the Pacific, thus sending out a team of explorers to see valuable. Congress mapped out a state boundary system for the new states that it had acquired. This was done before the settlers had arrived, this meant they had set rules and set boundaries state by state. These people now had land and there own place, which makes them free; this refers back to Jefferson opposing the notion of an empire. The reason that the Americans desperately needed this established settlement was for protection. They needed a strong power-base and protections to deter other empires. And with the wars ending with Great Britain, their centralised power has never needed to be this rigid and strong to portray their strength as a nation. Therefore this shows that the westward expansion; which includes the purchase of Louisiana, was extremely crucial to the survival of the newly formed United States of America. In addition to this, with populations rising, and the economy ‘booming’ a secure Government was needed and this was established which meant that America would be a difficult place to other throw. During the early 1800s, there was continuing pressure from the population to remove the Indians from western America. This was seen as there rightful land and that the Indians didn’t deserve it. The general consensus was that the Americans were the majority and that the Indians were in the minority, so they should allow the Americans to migrate onto their land. This idea was backed by the government, and they stated that because it was their ‘rightful land’ that they have the authority to use force if they do not move. This idea however was conflicted in a later case of 1832, where it stated the Indian land is their land, and it is a breech of the contract if they were to be forced out or killed over it. Nevertheless this shows the growing anxiety of the American population to either have the Indians removed or to have greater protection against them, due to their supposed savage nature, even though are described by many historians as a “civilized” culture. The American people particularly wanted agricultural improvement, but they needed greater public safety from the natives. The general split from the north and the south was apparent here also. The generally more perceived “racist” south were significantly worried about the Indians, and didn’t want to be involved in there situation. However the north were more receptive towards the Indian’s, and this was shown with the Lewis and Clark expedition where the crew embraced different races. “That chief—pointing to the second—and some brave men will accompany the Arikara chief now with you to his village and nation, to smoke with that people.” This shows that this period was extremely important because it shows that it didn’t only expand the country in terms of sheer size, but it integrated another completely race into society; slowly but surely. After the end of the war with Great Britain, an economic boom occurred mainly because all constraints were removed. “ The administration tell me that the object for which they are going to war with Great B...