Westward Expansion

Meriwether Lewis

Leader of the Lewis and Clark expedition.

William Clark

Co-leader of the Lewis and Clark expedition.

Sacagawea

Shoshone woman who acted as a translator and guide during the Lewis and Clark expedition.

Fort Mandan

Winter headquarters of the Lewis and Clark expedition.

Cumberland Gap

Key geographical feature discovered by Daniel Boone allowing passage through the Appalachians.

Pike’s Peak

Mountain named after Zebulon Pike during his explorations.

Jedediah Smith

First white American to cross the Sierra Nevada and travel overland to California.

National Road

First federally funded highway starting in 1811, connecting Maryland and Illinois.

Erie Canal

Major canal built between 1817 and 1825; connected Great Lakes to the Hudson River.

Battle of Tippecanoe

Conflict between William Henry Harrison and Shawnee Confederacy led by Tecumseh.

Northwest Ordinance (1787)

Established rules for admitting new states and guaranteed rights in the Northwest Territory.

Creek War (1813–1814)

Conflict resulting in the forced cession of land from the Creek Nation to the U.S.

Cherokee

One of the Five Civilized Tribes who adopted European-American customs.

Manifest Destiny

The 19th-century doctrine that the U.S. had the right and duty to expand across the continent.

Lewis and Clark Expedition

Military expedition (1804-1806) to explore the Louisiana Territory.

Great Falls

Difficult terrain faced by Lewis and Clark requiring a lengthy portage.

Nez Perce

Native tribe that aided Lewis and Clark during their expedition.

Fort Clatsop

Fort built by Lewis and Clark on the Columbia River during their expedition to winter 1805-06.

Oto & Missouri tribes

Native tribes encountered by Lewis and Clark; they were friendly.

Teton Sioux

Hostile tribe encountered by Lewis and Clark, confronted at Pierre, SD.

Amerigo Vespucci

Italian explorer who contributed to the early mapping of the Americas.

John Colter

Member of the Lewis and Clark expedition; first known to describe Yellowstone.

Federal investment

Government funding for infrastructure that facilitated westward expansion.

Steamships

Revolutionized river transport; allowed faster navigation, especially on the Mississippi.

Overcrowding

Population issue in Eastern cities that pushed families westward to seek new opportunities.

Population Growth (Midwest)

Grew at a rate of 11% per year from 1790–1820, contrasting with the Northeast.

New States by 1840

Formation of 26 states from original 13 due to rapid population growth in the West.

Trail of Tears

The forced removal of Native Americans from their homelands from 1830s onwards.

Economic expansion

One of Jefferson's motivations for westward exploration, especially in fur trade.

Agrarian ideal

Jefferson's vision of more land for farmers as a motivation for expansion.

Internal water route

Jefferson's goal to link the Mississippi with the Pacific.

John Jacob Astor

Fur trader whose company sought to establish trade in the Oregon Territory.

Louisiana Purchase

1803 acquisition of land from France, which doubled the size of the U.S.

Federal support

Government backing that aided in the expansion of American territories.

Benjamin Bonneville

Explorer known for travels in the Oregon Country and Great Basin.

Davy Crockett

Folk hero and congressman known for his explorations of Tennessee and Texas.

Teton Sioux encounter

Hostile confrontation with Teton Sioux led by Chief Black Buffalo.

Acculturation

Adaptation of Native tribes to European-American customs, seen in the 'Civilized Tribes'.

Animal species descriptions

Lewis and Clark documented over 100 species including 25 birds.

Plant species descriptions

Lewis and Clark produced descriptions for over 100 types of plants.

Federal guidelines for statehood

Rules established for orderly political expansion in the West.

Crisis of 1819

Economic downturn leading to increased migration to the Midwest.

Trade routes

Established by explorers to facilitate commercial activities and military strategy.

Fur trade

The backbone of the early western economy, incentivizing exploration.

The Alamo

Site of a famous battle in Texas, where Davy Crockett died.

Fort Bonneville

A fur-trade post established by Benjamin Bonneville.

Mississippi River

Key river linking trade routes expanded significantly by steamships.

Yankton Sioux

Friendly Native tribe encountered by Lewis and Clark.

1,600 acres

Land granted to each captain of the Lewis and Clark expedition upon their return.

Oneidas

Native tribe contacted by explorers for diplomatic relations.

American folklore

Crockett's tales contributed significantly to the myths of the American frontier.

Shawnee conflicts

Frequent skirmishes encountered during early explorations, notably by Daniel Boone.

Cotton plantations

Established in Georgia following the Creek War due to land cessions.

Bitterroot Mountains

Most treacherous part of the Lewis and Clark journey.

Missouri

The river that Lewis and Clark followed initially on their expedition.

Folk hero

A status earned by Davy Crockett due to his exploits in the frontier.

Expansion and conflict

The ongoing tension as settlers moved west, impacting Native populations.

U.S. sovereignty

Claim to territory established through mapping by explorers.

Navigation improvements

Boats and canals that enabled better movement of goods and people.

Lewis’s group

Faced conflict with Blackfeet during the return journey.

Settlement patterns

Influenced by explorers' maps and routes through the West.

Jefferson’s unlimited credit

A significant support for the Lewis and Clark expedition.

Blackfeet encounter

Resulted in violence during the Lewis and Clark expedition return.

Missouri River dynamics

Significant for trade and exploration in Lewis and Clark's era.

Oregon Territory

Area that later become pivotal in Manifest Destiny.

Zealous exploration

Driven by economic and territorial ambitions post-Louisiana Purchase.

Native alliances

Strategies used by Lewis and Clark to establish cooperative relationships.

Economic motivations

Fur trade and land acquisition as incentives for westward expansion.

Geographical obstacles

Challenges faced by explorers, including mountains and rough terrain.

Federal infrastructure investment

Catalyzed migration and economic opportunity in the West.

Trail systems

Developed for easier movement of settlers and goods across regions.

Political ramifications

Impact of western expansion on U.S. governance and Native relations.