Westward Expansion of the United States

Using the often rose-colored window through which American history is viewed for the majority of the population, one can find countless tales of "how the west was won", recounting how brave settlers journeyed west of the Mississippi River and settled an unsettled land. The reality, as shown by historical evidence however, is that US control over these lands was achieved mostly through a series of wars and near wars with the indigenous people who had already settled in the area- Native Americans. This paper will take the perspective of these native people, because for them, the story can be called "how the west was lost".

What Drove Americans Westward

From the viewpoint of the Americans living east of the Mississippi River, the move westward was as much sacred as it was secular. On the practical side of the equation, so to speak, the industrialization of the US, including the proliferation of railroads and telegraph systems throughout the settled portions of the nation in the 19th century led people not only to the understanding that mobility in starting homes and businesses across North America was possible, but also that it seemed at the time as a necessity, given the explosion of the American economy and the untapped resources that could lie on the other side of the mighty river that bisected the nation between settled and unsettled territory. Moreover, the theory of Manifest Destiny came into play; this theory, quite literally, held that people believed that God was leading them to westward migration (Forbes).

How Settlement Reflected National Policies

The westward settlement, beyond the practical and religious connotations, was also a reflection of the national policies of the time. In the late 1820s, with the presidency of Andrew Jackson, the federal government began to take the position that it should play a more active role in the lives of its citizens, the economy, and the infrastructure of the nation. From this mindset came the urging for Americans to move westward and start new lives (Forbes).

Native Americans and Westward Expansion

Westward expansion also led to new lives for Native Americans, but not always for the better, and in many cases, innocent lives came to a sudden and violent end. Native American groups, prior to westward expansion, had fought among themselves for the control of lands, resources, and the like. As pioneers were entering the western part of the US, the Native Americans found themselves at odds with a new opponent, and as a result, many natives took up arms in opposition to these invaders of their traditional homelands as would anyone in similar circumstances. While treaties were enacted by the "white man", and these treaties held the promise of protecting lands and resources of the natives, for the most part, what occurred was segregation into reservation lands and starvation (Smallbone). Opposition to this oppression usually led to wars with the US military, who took the position that they were defending America from invaders, when in fact, the opposite seems more accurate through the reverse telescope of history.

Conclusion

History is often a matter of perspective; for Native Americans, all too often, that perspective is ignored by revisionism and popular culture. However, for those who take the time to fairly evaluate the evidence, thankfully, the truth can and does emerge, albeit slowly.

Works Cited

Forbes, Jack D. "Indigenous Americans: Spirituality and Ecos." Daedalus 130.4 (2001): 283.

Smallbone, Chris. "How the West Was Lost: Chris Smallbone Explains the Effect of United States Expansion on the Native Americans of the Great Plains in the Mid-19th Century." History Today Apr. 2006: 42+.