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Key Reasons Tensions Arose during Westward expansion of America - Coggle…
Key Reasons Tensions Arose during Westward expansion of America
Native Americans
During the Expansion of America, many Native Americans were displaced, forcing them to also travel west, this lead to raised tensions between native american tribes
1783 - The British lost the war with the 13 colonies
Handed over 230 million acres of land to the USA. However this was Native American land
Indians were angry that the British gave the land that was rightfully theirs to the USA, despite not having been defeated in the war themselves.
George Washington became president in 1789
Believed that Indians might attack the northwest territory of the USA
Worried that the British might support Indian attack
from 1791 George Washington put 80% of his presidential budget into campaign against the Indians
Land and Democracy
Thomas Jefferson believed that the ideal democratic society was one where a farmer owned his own land
He argued that people with land and property could make more democratic decisions than those without
1789 USA depended on trade across the atlantic
USA also wanted to trade across the pacific
American diplomats Robert Livingston and James Monroe purchased the Louisiana Territory from the French for $15 million dollars, or less than tree cents an acre, in 1803.
Equivalent to $342 million USD in today's standard
Equal to roughly £250 GBP,
Land and Trade
Jefferson ordered his government to find trade opportunities iwth the west
Merriweather Lewis and William Clark were tasked with exploring the new lands
This was so the USA could initiate trade with the west
1804 - they set out following the Missouri river and enter unclaimed territory towards the pacific coast
They had a native guide called Sacagwea.
Lewis and Clark were able to make maps that allowed fur traders to hunt beavers and bears, which made fur trade possible.
This encouraged other traders to move west to trade with natice americans
Land and Profit
Farmers wanted to buy land
1 Acre sold off for $640 for 640 acres at a time
Though as many settled in America to escape poverty or the law, many didn't have much money
This lead to the weathy buying out massive amounts of land to sell/rent smaller sections for a large profit
Squatters travelled west, settling unclaimed land until it was sold, and they were forced to relocate