Westward Expansion

Many minorities faced hardships during the westward expansion. This is evident when looking at Native American, African American, and female stories. Native Americans were driven off their lands by white settlers even after their attempts to make peace. African Americans were still enslaved in some if not most new territories and continued to be viewed as inferior to white settlers. Women arguably faced more challenges than their male counterparts and were forced to raise and provide for their families along with their other duties.  

Review Sources: 

1.  ​Execution of 38 Sioux Indians at Markato, MN

Westward expansion brought many settlers to encroach upon Native American lands. In return the Native Americans were promised resources that were never given by the American government which resulted in increasing tensions. This tension resulted in the mass genocide of the Native Americans.

2.  "The Negro" illustration in "The World of California"

While expanding westward there were new opportunities for people of color but with due time racial discrimination impacted their experience. 

3.  Diaries and letters from Westward Expansion

Mormons migrated from Missouri to Nauvoo, Illinois. Due to Joseph Smith's teachings, many who wanted to convert to Mormonism made the journey to Nauvoo. In the west, Mormons were persecuted for their beliefs which is one of the reasons community became the foundation of Mormonism. 

 4. Narrative (PBS): African Americans and Westward Expansion

When settlers began to push westward many still maintained their ideals of slavery. This was tension was amplified when Mexico disagreed with the values of slavery. After many battles Mexico was forced to succeed locations such as Texas, New mexico, and California. This resulted in a free California but many of these territories remained pro-slavery. 

 5. Women during Westward Expansion

Women were involuntarily burdened with the responsibility of caring and providing for a family and simultaneously helping build their new life. Most women did not choose to migrate but were forced to follow their husbands. This journey was more physically demanding for the women who had to walk it opposed to the men who directed the oxen.

Review Questions:

1. What drove the Mormons' need for community which resulted in westward migration?

2. What were the causes of the Native American and New Settler’s tensions? 

3. What caused women's migrations to become more challenging than their male counterparts'? 

4. Even though California was a “free state," how was discrimination a prominent challenge for people of color?