What Extent Was Pioneers the Main Reason for American Expansion in 1838?

To what extent was pioneers the main reason for American expansion in 1838?

To a small extent, I believe pioneers were the main reason for American expansion. The actions of pioneering Americans included ‘frontiersmen’, they were men and women who began to settle on Indian land even before the War of independence. They would attack, burn and pillage Indian lands when the government refused to protect them from the Indian attack. For instance, Daniel Boone was a frontiersman, who saw himself as a pioneer. Once the war was over, he demanded the right to own land after he’d fought Indians and even escaped imprisonment by them.

Ever since the first pioneers settled in the United States at the east, the country had been expanding westward. The pioneers who flocked to the west, usually migrated as families and settled along the rivers of the West in order to facilitate trade. All had their own set of reasons for taking on the long, treacherous journey to settle there. The news of open land reached the ears of immigrants, freed slaves, farmers, single women, and others. For many, life in the eastern states had lost its appeal. Some had trouble finding a job, overcrowding started being an issue in certain areas, and farmers wanted more land to farm. Others just didn’t like living in what was becoming an industry-driven country with large cities. Kentucky was made a state in 1792, whilst thousands of others sought new lives in the mid-west. Pioneers established farms and businesses whilst waiting for ownership of land. Bit by bit, they pushed out the native population.

On the other hand, a very important reason for the American expansion is Louisiana purchase. Westward expansion picked up speed in 1803 when President Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana territory from the French government with $15 million, it doubled the size of the existing United States. What was known at the time as the Louisiana Territory stretched from the Mississippi River in the east to the Rocky Mountains in the west and from the Gulf of Mexico in the south to the Canadian border in the north. Part or all of 15 states were eventually created from the land deal, which is considered one of the most important achievements of Thomas Jefferson’s presidency.

Jefferson as President believed that a republic depended on independent ethical citizens for its survival. He believed that America needed independence in its citizens and this included land ownership. Land ownership was a key component to Jefferson's plan as president to become a world power and expand the United State westward. Jefferson believed that America should be made up of small independent farms. They key to achieving this was expanding westward in order to provide enough land for citizens of the United States to have small farms. Especially since the Cotton production has boomed because of the Cotton Gin. Americans need more land for farming and Jefferson is trying is best to provide them with it.

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