1. Which industries had the greatest impact on westward expansion and why? You can consider mining, logging, or any of the indus
tries from the eastern United States, which relied on resources from the West. write your response in at least 2 to 3 complete sentences.
2. Why do you think European immigrants left their homeland? Why do you think these immigrants chose to come to the United States? What would they bring with them, and what opportunities awaited new immigrants who came to America?
Mining gold and silver brought a large amount of people west. The opportunity to get rich quick was an enticement for many. There was untouched ground to the west ready for harvest.
Freedom from a tyrannical monarchy and the opportunity to start a new life in a land that had not yet had a government established leaving the door open to start their own government to be run how they desired.
1. The mining industry was one of the industries that had great impact for the westward expansion in northamerica. Many people seeking wealth settled in western territories creating small mining towns. These towns were created when the existence of a gold deposit had already been proven but many times they were created only with the rumor that there could be gold there. They were prosperous towns at an economic level until the ore was depleted. Then they left the town. The timber industry began when settlers cut wood to build their settlements on American land. The westward expansion generated high demand for wood supply, which promoted the timber industry by strengthening the US economy. This industry grew by leaps and bounds and already in 1970, 41% of the timber in the United States came from the Pacific Northwest. During the era of the construction of the transcontinental railroad there was a dramatic expansion in agriculture. The number of farms tripled and the number of people living on farms increased to 31 million in 1905. Industrial agriculture favored the westward expansion since with the introduction of agricultural machinery farmers managed to increase crop yields with less labor. Farmers organized into local and regional cooperatives to promote their interests.
2. It is possible that many European immigrants arrived in the Americas seeking better living conditions and fleeing adverse economic and political situations in their homelands. They may have chosen to reach the United States looking for raw materials to export to Europe and get money. When thinking about what they could have brought and the type of opportunities that awaited them it is important to consider whether the migration was desired or imposed. Many people came of their own accord and thousands of people were enslaved and brought to America as slaves. Maybe those who came enslaved could not bring anything and others might bring their clothes and items necessary for their business.
