Go west, young man, go west and grow up with the country!
This was said by newspaper writer John Soule and made popular by Horace Greeley. Horace Greeley was the newspaper editor of the New York Tribune (which he founded ). It was America's most influential newspaper from the 1840s to the 1870s and Horace Greeley had the reputation of being the greatest editor of his time. He used his newspaper to promote his political beliefs and opinions, which included his belief that America should expand westward!
Reasons for Westward Expansion!
Below shows the original United States territory in 1783 shaded in brown.
Please study this map and learn more about the acquisition of land during the 1800's.
Podcasts
1. Why Move West by Abby and Alissa
There were many different reasons why people choose to leave everything they knew and moved west.
Abby and Alissa share these reasons in the audio file below.
2. Manifest Destiny by Brennan and Nathan
Manifest Destiny was a belief that the United States was destined to expand their boundaries all the way to the Pacific
Ocean. It was the driving force behind the United States moving west.
3. The Homestead Act by Adam, Enrique, and Jonah
To Move or Not to Move....the Homestead Act of 1862!
That was the big question. The government promised 160 acres of free land to any citizen who would built a house and live on it for 5 years!
What would you do?
The Homestead Act remained in effect for more than 100 years. The final claim, for 80 acres in southeastern Alaska, was approved in 1988.
The image to the left is an advertisement in 1869 encouraging landless people to go west.
First Homesteader
Congratulations Mr. Daniel Freeman. He was one of the first to take the government up on their offer for free land! He settled in Nebraska. He was awarded his land deed 5 years later for a small registration fee.
Below is Daniel Freeman's land owner certificate.
Below is Daniel Freeman's land owner certificate.