Chasing the Frontier: The American Westward Expansion
The concept of the Frontier Bewegung USA played a crucial role in shaping American history and identity. This page explores the various aspects of westward expansion and its impact on different groups.
Definition: The Frontier definition deutsch refers to the borderland or frontier region that marked the edge of European-American settlement as it moved westward across North America.
The frontier movement involved a contrast between the modern society on the east coast and the untamed wilderness of the west. The U.S. government played a significant role in facilitating western settlement, often at the expense of Native American populations.
Highlight: Native Americans were severely impacted by European-American expansion, with their populations drastically reduced and their lands taken.
The discovery of gold in California, Texas, and Oklahoma served as a major catalyst for westward migration. This led to the famous phrase "Alaska, here we come!" as prospectors sought new opportunities for wealth in fish and gold.
Example: The narrator mentions that their grandfather found gold, illustrating the personal stories tied to the gold rush era.
The frontier expansion had severe consequences for wildlife, particularly the American bison. Approximately 25 million buffalos were killed, partly to clear land for settlement.
Quote: "The frontier is that which makes us Americans" - attributed to Frederick Jackson Turner, emphasizing the Frontier Bedeutung in shaping American identity.
The government's role in westward expansion included funding for railroads and roads, facilitating the movement of settlers across the continent. This expansion led to the creation of great cities on the east coast as well.
Vocabulary: Manifest Destiny - A 19th-century doctrine or belief that the expansion of the US throughout the American continents was both justified and inevitable.
The text also mentions a dialogue between a miner and a Native American, highlighting the cultural clash and differing perspectives on the frontier expansion.
