Westward expansion brought inspiration to start a new beginning, but immigration created an even greater beginning. Manifest destiny would not have been able to prove expansion justifiable if it were not for immigrants, as a Harvard University article elucidated, “Immigrants were not only integral to the construction of the transcontinental railroads that facilitated western expansion, but they also used the railroad to migrate west and to form new immigrant settlements in western states and territories.” (“Open Collections Program: Immigration to the US, Immigration, Railroads, and the West”). Immigrants built the railroads the not only connected the country, but made westward expansion inevitable, as described in the manifest destiny. In fact, the first transcontinental railroad would not have been completed without the work of Chinese and Irish laborers who compromised a great amount of the workforce. Turner believed that the native-born Americans were pushing for businesses to migrate west to attract more native-born Americans, but in reality, railroad companies created plans that “…increased population in the west meant more business for railroads.” These hard-working railroads would not have been completed without the diligent immigrants. The “American character” exemplified in Turner’s thesis is caused by the…
The American West was viewed as a land of opportunity and success for many people of different racial and financial backgrounds during the time between 1865 to 1890. However, the extent of success from the opportunity varied on multiple factors. For the homesteader, opportunity was based upon good weather conditions and hard work but mostly only large scale corporations succeeded. Mining provided little for the average miner; large mining industries profited instead.. At some point West was the land of opportunity and at the same time it was not a land of opportunity for Native American Indians and Minorities.…
Intro Paragraph: Explain background of Great Migration. Time period. Re-enact the time. Use works of literature in book (poems, quotes, songs). Refer to Wilkerson interview explaining how Migration was so great because it wasn’t planned. Wilkerson said it was a movement where people did it for themselves and don’t see themselves as heroes. Most people don’t even know that they were apart of history. Every person had his or her own reasoning for leaving. Be sure to use Wilkerson a lot and tie that to facts about the Migration. The three characters in The Warmth of Other Suns vary in a number of ways when looking through different disciplines at each characters reasoning for leaving their circumstances and migrating. Ida Mae left because of a psychological battle, George because of cultural exposure, and Robert has a special case where sociology and geography coincide.…
The United States continually reuses the western narrative as a uniquely white American concept. In almost every case, they mean a “white wild west” with Native Americans as a single people being the antagonist. Through these stories, the United States’ cultural values that so many of the population idealize are created and reaffirmed in these stereotypical narratives. In reality, the West was never completely white at all; rather, the West had people from all walks of life living and trying to succeed all over its region. Through three different texts, they each reaffirm the idea that the West was racially and culturally diverse, even when propaganda and other mediums advertised a “white West.”…
I believe that the risks the American West posed to those who were brave enough to venture out to the American West were worth it. I also believe that I would have moved to the West despite the dangers and corruption happening at the time for two reasons. Number one and most important reason were the economic opportunities. Many immigrants chose the West because of the hope for economic prosperity. Chinese immigrants for example, having heard of the California Gold rush hoped that they would be able to accumulate wealth and return to China. But soon they discovered their labor was a source of steady income and many stayed working as miners and laborers for the railroad corporations. At the…
Between the years of 1915 and 1960, many African Americans were involved in what is known today as the Great Migration. During this time, about 5 million blacks migrated from the south to the north and the west. During this move African Americans moved to places such as: Chicago, Illinois, Detroit, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, California, Washington and etc. The push factors that influenced African Americans to leave the South was their desire and ambition to overcome the oppressive economic struggle, little opportunities, harsh treatments, and no jobs. The pull factors that influenced the Great Migration were better legal systems, equality in education, a better chance to advance, the opportunity to own land and job opportunities. At…
Regional interest guided the move to the west, with the people looking for more room or a better more beneficial beginning. The economy has most of the time played a enormous part in the history of the United States, with the move to the west individuals had more opportunity of gaining wealth. On the other hand the westward expansions relation to the north and south was more rocky to begin with since both regions had different viewpoints on the move, the west could either benefit or harm one of the regions. The westward expansion, was the start of a new life for the individuals and each factor played a huge role on encouraging individuals to move and start a new life on a unknown territory, that would become a piece of the puzzle for the United States increase in…
They would walk miles to help their families, to have a happier life, to find work, and to be free. The Great Migration was a turning point for African American history. The Great Migration was “a movement of of African Americans from rural southern United States to north, northeast, midwest, and west of the United States”(Great Migration African American). “During this time six million African Americans migrated”(The Great Migration). This took place during the twentieth century 1910-1970.…
The Cowboy Era came about through the herding of cattles. Cowboys were the image of courageous, spirited horsemen living a dangerous life. These men played an important role in the settling of the west. Ranching was a big industry and cowboys helped to run the ranches. They herded cattle, repaired fences and buildings, and took care of the horses. The days of the open range were over. From the late nineteenth century cattle were kept on enclosed ranches and farmed in much smaller quantities. The invention of the barbed wire meant that large areas could be fenced properly. Cattles were now enclosed on ranches and no longer roamed the plains. As a result, cowboys were no longer…
During the time period of the twentieth century in Europe and the Middle East there were significant changes occurring in major forced migration movements such as Muslims during the Balkan Wars and many Jews during World War II. ‘Superpower’s’ (or successful dominant European countries) citizens never migrating away from their homeland remained constant.…
Emigration was directly linked to the situation in the country of origin. Especially from 1820 onwards Malta had formidable problems with redundant population. Peace in the country developed occupancies, which led to unemployment throughout the country. Although the country was afflicted by several diseases like the plague in 1813 and cholera this did little to curb the unstoppable growth in population.…
I think that the events, caused by the U.S, in 1800s were not justified to move west .By 1840 almost 7 million Americans had migrated westward in hopes of securing land and being prosperous. The Louisiana Purchase stretched from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains and from Canada to New Orleans, and it doubled the size of the United States. The move westward was not justified and was forcing people out their homes and they were getting killed. Westward expansion supported the US and was not fair to the nearby places. Us gained much land after the Louisiana Purchase and Thomas Jefferson supported the expansion.…
The west began expanding at an extremely fast rate, and the best use for the land was to provide food for America. Livestock began to take over the West, and helped providing America with many animals. The west looked to provide for America by growing plants, due to the very fertile soil. The west quickly became known as the nation’s “breadbasket”. The sold animals and crops to America, and this westward expansion developed a talent that America craved. The west played a role in the antebellum period of America, but didn't nearly touch the relationship issues between the east and south.…
The topic of ethnicity and migration dates back through many centuries. As I focused in on one particular group in the early middle ages, the Slavic people of Eastern Europe, I found those topics very apparent in the time of their expansion. Through extensive research I was able to map out a history of the Slavic people and the cause of their migration West towards Rome. Their reasons were very much like those of the Syrian people today.…
The poem On the emigration to america, written by Philip Freneau in the late 1700’s was a literary piece that described America through the eyes of a puritan emigrant. It puts a lovely flourish on one of its main themes; the untouched world, filled with unknown riches and bountiful land as compared against the pomp and circumstance of the british-european east. It is a great example of many of the stylistic devices outlined in the colonial unit and effectively conveys the glory of a brand new world as compared to its inhabitants homeland.…