Question

Which of the following best explains what led to the concept of Manifest Destiny?

Americans wanted to protect the land of the Native Americans.

Americans thought they should spread their culture and ideals.

Americans wanted European countries to stay out of their affairs.

Americans learned about this concept from the Native Americans.

Answer 1

Manifest Destiny was a political term which basically meant that the United States was meant to expand and span from coast to coast. During the Civil War, President Lincoln even stated that the United States would crumble if it did not expand. People moved west for many reasons, but mostly for want of a better life.

People were taking advantage of the opportunities that congress had passed. The Homestead Act of 1862, for instance, guaranteed 160 acres of land for free. All one had to do was promise to live on it and cultivate it for 5 years.

Heard of the Oregon Trail? It was very dangerous, and when the Transcontinental Railroad was completed in 1869, it was eliminated completely. Everyone then took advantage of the railroad.

People traveled west for gold. Two famous Gold expeditions are Comstock Lode, Nevada and I'm sure you've heard of John Sutter's Mill in California.

When people first began traveling west, they tried to make it as farmers or ranchers. Farmers had the short end of the stick. The soil was hard to work with, and there were no trees on the plain. Homes were constructed of sod, a top layer of soil. Women became very depressed from being isolated on the plains with very little to look at. The construction of schools and towns became a priority for settlers on the plains.

Wind could be a farmer's best friend or worst enemy. The windmill allowed for water, while fertile soil was stripped away at the same time. Ranchers might also let their herd trample through a farmers hard work. This ended with the invention of barbed wire.

The life of the cowboy was not at all how Hollywood has made it. It was very boring sitting atop a horse all day watching cows. Cowboys would herd their cattle on trails such as the Goodnight trail which stretched from somewhere in Texas to Cheyenne Wyoming I believe. The herding of cattle allowed for boom towns to spread up, but after the railroad there was little use for them(air conditioned carts and easier transportation)

Sheep herding was also very popular on the plains, and far easier than cattle herding.
Also, most of the settlers on the plains were foreigners from Europe.

After the construction of the transcontinental railroad, the west and east coasts were connected. The west had been tamed, and everything began to quiet down.

Answer 2

B

Answer 3

I hope that was helpful.