New Settlers in the West

1.      Read pages 10 - 18 List three reasons why people in the United States moved west.

a)      The west offered new opportunities. Such as rich fertile land for farming, forests full of lumber, and many mineral resources.

b)      Dramatic growth in the United States population from immigration required more land. The immigrants wanted to be part of what they saw as the promise of the United States. The US was the beacon of hope for other countries. Expanding land was a new way for immigrants to be part of this new life.

c)      More opportunity for freedom, persecution, religious beliefs, and better social opportunities for others.

2.      How did westward expansion contribute to sectional tensions in the United States?

Sectional tensions increased in the United States with westward expansion mainly because of the divisive issue of slavery. The North and the South began to compete to gain new states as either free or slave to try to gain control of Congress. Every time a new state joined the Union, there was more tension.

3.       What was the Peace Policy?

The Peace Policy was enacted by president Ulysses S Grant towards the Indians. The aim of the policy was to put all Indians on reservations or lands the government designated for Indian use. Religious leaders were named to enact the policy, however, the policy was not really peaceful as the United States considered all Indians not on reservations to be hostile and sent the army to enforce the laws. The real goal of the peace policy was to pacify Native Americans by making them give up their traditions and their way of live to follow the customs of white America.