Polk played a major role in expanding west.

The population of the United States grew from 5.2 million people in 1800 to 76.2 million in 1900.

Interesting Facts about Westward Expansion and the Old West Only Utah, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Arizona had not been admitted as states from today's contiguous 48 states. In 1890, the US government announced that the west had been explored. During this time, gunslingers of the west such as Wild Bill Hickok and Jesse James became famous. The law was the local sheriff and people had to look to protect themselves against bandits and outlaws. Even others, such as the Mormons, moved west to avoid persecution.Īs the first settlers and pioneers moved into the west, there was little government. Others came to California during the gold rush to strike it rich. Some of them wanted to claim free land for ranching and farming from the government through the Homestead Act. Pioneers and settlers moved out west for different reasons.

They also gained the Oregon Territory in a treaty from Great Britain. After a war with Mexico over the rights to Texas, the country gained much of the southwest including the land of California. The United States continued to expand westward and gain land. You can read more about the culture and plight of Native Americans during the westward expansion here. Sometimes they were forced to leave existing lands by the military and marched at gunpoint to new lands (see the Trail of Tears). In many cases, Native Americans were ordered to relocate to new lands or reservations. As the United States moved west, it took over lands once occupied by Native Americans. One tragic result of the westward expansion of the United States was the forced relocation of many Native American tribes. This belief became known as the Manifest Destiny. Many people in the United States believed it was the country's destiny to expand westward all the way to the Pacific Ocean. President Jefferson sent explorers Lewis and Clark to learn more about this vast frontier. It nearly doubled the land size of the United States.

This was a huge area of land west of the Mississippi River. In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana Territory from the French for $15 million. Daniel Boone led settlers across the Cumberland Gap and into Kentucky. This area today makes up the states of Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois. One of the first areas settled was the Northwest Territory. They began to move west of the Appalachians. Many people wanted new land to farm and hunt. By 1775, this number had grown to 2.5 million. In 1700 there were around 250,000 colonists living in the American colonies. From the National Atlas of the United States

Westward expansion information for kids