Many factors contributed to territorial expansion from 1844 to 1860. One of these was the economic interests of settlers, which caused a huge wave of people to move to California. Gold was found in the California territory in 1848, and many hopeful settlers moved them and their family out there in the hopes of striking it rich. This eventually resulted in huge cities like San Francisco and Sacramento sprouting up and California being annexed into the United States. Cultural beliefs also caused a big push west, since the idea of Manifest Destiny really encouraged people to move and settle west for the good of the nation and the greater good. This was an idea that eventually got adopted by Congress itself, further fueling the push west. Political ambitions were probably the biggest factor that contributes to territorial expansion, specifically political tensions with Mexico. When Texas won its independence and declared itself an independent nation, the United States--after some discourse on the subject--annexed it as a state. This resulted in the Mexican-American War, which ended with an American victory and a huge piece of land west of Texas being granted to the United States. This was called the Mexican Cession, and included parts of the future states of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and a few others. Political ambitions of individual political parties regarding the balance of slave and free states also occasionally fueled the push to settle west, like when a big wave of people from the Northeast and also from Missouri all flooded into Kansas to determine whether it would end up being a slave or free state.
Explanation:
I am so long-winded. Cut out what you would like. This honestly isn't something I'm completely with, but my teacher barely reads my stuff so I don't try all that hard. I hope it helps :)
Answer: Territorial expansion happened as a result from war with Mexico and international disputes; treaties were made that required more land. The Manifest Destiny, a religious idea, helped increase the amount of land America would take into their own hands through westward expansion.
