期末论文An Analysis of the Westward Movement in American History.doc

An Analysis of the Westward Movement in American HistoryAbstract：American Westward Movement in 19th century, in fact, is a large-scale advancement of American economy exploitation and a territorial expansion. It plays a vital role in the formation, the development and the present situation of the United States of America. Particularly, Westward Movement has seeped into this young nationality on its cultural influence. However, at the same time Westward Movement is also the Indians tragic history.Key words: Westward Movement; national character; pioneer; Indian cultureThe background information ：American Westward Movement in the 19th century was the process of economy exploitation and territory expansion waged by the Americans from Appalachian Mountains to the west from the end of 18th century to the end of 19th century. It lasted about one hundred years, and American territory was expanded from the 13 colonies at the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in the Independence War to the vast area-the shore of the Pacific Ocean. This movement was a space and time-spanning, large-scale, and far-reaching social migrant. “Till now, to a certain extent, the history of America can be said that it is a history of colonizing.” The first period of Westward Movement was from the American War of Independence to the period of the Civil War. During this period, it mainly developed agriculture. The west land was very important for USA after its independence. But for Westward Movement, there would be no todays America. After achieving independence with the Treaty of Paris, the United States expanded westward, enlarging its borders seven times, with two major border adjustments, one each with colonies of the United Kingdom and Spain, and several small disputes. The original thirteen states grew into fifty states, most of which began as incorporated territories. The general pattern seen in this is of territorial expansion, carving of organized territories from the newly acquired land, modification of the borders of these territories, and eventual statehood. Only two states, Nevada and Missouri, grew appreciably after statehood, and five, Georgia, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia, lost land, in each case to form new states.By expanding the nations borders to include more than three million square miles, the United States became one of the most powerful nations of the 20th century. Firstly, capitalistic agriculture grew up, and then animal husbandry, commerce, mining, and industry were following up. At last, it existed a situation in which agriculture and animal husbandry developed at the same time, industry and agriculture promoted each other, transportation and commerce trade progressed overall. As early as in 1820s there was flood of new immigrants from Europe to the United States. Then the stream of immigration continued. Between 1815 and 1830 over 500 000 Europeans came into the United States. They had expected to live a better life, but they found themselves still poor in the crowded Northeast. As they were dissatisfied with the conditions at home, they hoped to find a more favorable environment on the frontier.California Gold Rush. Gold was discovered in California in the 1840s. This rush made lots of people move West with the hopes of becoming rich! Cheap, Fertile Land. As for the local farmers, they had no better life and they lost their land piece after piece because of land speculation. So they moved west to the vast area of wilderness where the land was cheap and great for farming. Freedom for Runaway from Slaves. Slaves from the South could have freedom in the new western territories where they settled in all black communities free from white prejudice. The westward movement began in the early 1600's with European settlements along the Atlantic Coast of North America. It continued until the late 1800's. First, some illegal immigrants went into west, and then American government brings these areas into their control. Then, many pioneers located in these areas. At first, pioneers were located in the east of Mississippi River. In the early 19th century, America expended its territory by the way of buying and invasion. In 1803, American government bought the Louisiana from French. From the early age of 19th century, the immigrants move to the west of Mississippi River. By the mid-1840's, adventurous pioneers had reached what are now California and Oregon in the Far West. The last frontier was the Great Plains between the Missouri River and the Rocky Mountains. The settlement of that region began in the 1860's. In 1862, Lincoln promulgated the homestead law and made the westward movement reach the peak. American Westward Movement is not only the process of original accumulation of capital in the development of capitalism, but also the process of promoting extensive exploitation of the west and rapid development of economy.The influences of Westward Movement :1. It stimulated the development of American west. It provides ample labors and wealth for the exploration, and it laid a firm foundation for capitalistic development of American. 2. It utterly changed American appearance: large quantities of barren lands were reclaimed; a lot of capital farms were set up; the development of agriculture in west provided a large amount of food, material and domestic market on industrial development; nature recourses were opened up to developed industries. By expanding the nations borders to include more than three million square miles, the United States became one of the most powerful countries of the 20th century.3. It Shaping American Characteristics. Western unique survival requirement formed important attribute which molded the American nationality disposition and values, and it also planted the spirit and the dream of the American. The vast field of west and the cultural difference provided an opportunity for development of individualism. Under the given condition of Westward Movement, and the competition of the society has fostered American peoples pragmatism.As the first independent capitalism country of the mainland of America, the birth of the new USA symbolized the tremendous leap in American history. Newly independent America drew on the policy of western aggrandizement. On one hand, thousands upon thousand immigrants moved from east to west. On the other hand, the whole country changed from an agriculture country to an industrial country. During Westward Movement, the government laid out a series of policies, such as immigrant policy and capital investment. Between 18201860，about five million immigrants came into USA, it provided adequate labors. Furthermore, the Homestead Act of 1862 was the important legislative act of 19th century. The land policy of American government at that moment provided institution and policy guarantee for peasants to get the soils and develop agriculture. Therefore, it promoted the westward exploitation, and also spurred USA to a great agriculture country rapidly. During 1815-1840, government invested 125 million dollars to every state for building 3000 miles canal. This period American transportation got a big boost. For another, there were policies of fostering development of education, attracting more foreign investment, perfect manpower, environmental protection and so the like. Under these effective strategies, American people constantly opened up. This westward movement, across what was often called the American frontier, was of enormous significance. They not only contributed to the expansion of American territory, influence on American politics， but also formed American characters. At last, the frontier life in Westward Movement brought plentiful source material to American culture and art in the future.Westward Movement ran through the time of free capitalism. It was a mass participation movement for exploiting the west, which carried out as individual, family or collective. In this campaign, millions of the labor masses endured hardship in pioneer work, they had created enormous material and spiritual wealth. The pioneers only took along the most important living necessaries, such as seeds, farm implements, guns, corns, domestic animals and the like. They struggled westward across hills, mountains, and prairies on foot and on horseback. Some floated through the Erie Canal on barges or traveled down rivers on flatboats and steamboats. Others crossed the rugged wilderness in covered wagons. Men brought their wives and children along, and undertake heavy tasks. Women gathered firewood and collected manure to cook food. However the food they took along could not hold out till the destination. Consequently, edible wild herbs and wild fruits became their supplementary food. They experienced the simple and crude board and lodging conditions, unpredicted weather, the dangerous shoal, cliff and precipice, bandits and cholera, dysentery disease. All of these made them tired out, be down with illness, and even lost their lives. Nevertheless, yearning for a better and brighter future, they put all eggs in one basket and conquer all obstacles for striding towards the west. For many pioneers, the Cumberland Gap, the Oregon Trail, and other roads west became paths to opportunity, and it opened wide for the most courageous and the most decisive person. All of these affect and mold Americans characters. Its tremendous influences even radiate todays Americans. Thus they are not satisfied with the existing state perpetually, and seek their beautiful dreams constantly. So someone calls America “a nation founding on the wheels”.American Westward Movement is on the one hand a great history, on the other hand a miserable history. The legacy of it is a mixture of great accomplishments and grim tragedies, heroic persistence and terrible errors. American Westward Movement is not only the process of original accumulation of capital in the development of capitalism, but the process of promoting extensive exploitation of the west and rapid development of economy. It brings together under a single government and economy the land that makes up the United States today. Westward Movement contributes to the emergence of the wealthiest and most powerful nation. The frontier experience also encourages the development of certain "American" characteristics. This has been achieved, however, by conquering and dispossessing other people, especially to Indians. We regret the Indian destruction greatly.Bibliography1 何顺果:美国史论文集. 北京: 三联书店出版社, 1983年2 张琼：西进运动对于美国文化的影响 . 杭州师范学院学报, 2001年，一月刊