Territorial Expansion of the United States - Essay Example

The mentality during the Jacksonian era that “every man is equal” fueled the optimism. Given that the territory up to the Mississippi River had been claimed and the Louisiana Purchase was being explored, Americans decided to go to the west.

The religious passion that resulted from the Second Great Awakening brought another incentive for westward expansion. Many settlers had a belief the growth of the American nation was blessed by God. Thus, the native Americans were considered to be heathens. Missionaries believed that they could save souls by Christianizing the tribes. In the end,  they became one of the first groups to cross the Mississippi River (Smith, pg 32-38).

Economic motives were also paramount for the westward expansion. The fur trade had been dominated by mostly European companies since colonial days. John Jacob Astor, a German immigrant, was the first American businessman to challenge the Europeans. In the process, he became a millionaire. When gold was discovered in California, the number of migrants increased so fast. Therefore, there was a need for more land.

The expansion of the boundaries of the United States was also a cultural war. The Americans believed that the desire for southerners to get more land that is suitable for cotton cultivation would increase slavery in these regions. In the northern part of the Mason-Dixon Line, more citizens had concerns about increasing slave states.