Westward Expansion Dbq Analysis

Western Expansion DBQ After the United States doubled its territory due to the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, American citizens were encouraged to go westward by the government. To urge its citizens to go westward, the United States’ government even promised to give out land for free. Hearing the news that land were to be given for free in the West, thousands of people hopped onto their wagons and started to go westward hoping to seek opportunities to change their lives. However, these people had no idea what they were facing as they went west—they were stepping into a completely unknown territory. They faced many challenges throughout the journey, yet with the unique American qualities they were able to overcome the challenges and achieve their American dreams. The United States government was a strong believer of westward expansion, and it encouraged American citizens to do so. “Oregon is a part of the North American continent, to which…the title …show more content…
“Three days after my little sister Lettie…died, we stopped for a few hours, and my sister Olivia was born…After a great hardship…we finally made our way through…to Oregon…We had been eight months on the road instead of five…”(Document E). The journey to the West was a long and dangerous—many people (especially the old and weak) died on their way. Nevertheless, these people who wanted to move west did not expected such a journey ahead of them, and it was their lack of preparedness that defeated them. But not all people went unprepared, Levi Savage (a Mormon) was among one of them. “But Levi Savage used his common sense and his knowledge…he declared positively that…we could not cross the mountains with a mixed company of aged people…without much suffering…”(Document C). If there were more characters like Levi, perhaps the settlers would be able to avoid losing their loved ones on the journey to the