The Importance Of Forging The National Economy - 2994 Words

Zac Crook Period 2 Mr. Rossi 10/27/14 XV. Forging the National Economy A. The Westward Movement 1. Americans even though there were many hardships, diseases, and general difficulties continued to migrate. This movement westward was often permanent 2. Westerners and pioneers tend to be more independent, stubborn, uneducated, and ambitious. This was likely due to the lack of government and helping hands they had 3. This trip and landscape caused many of America s popular literature pieces to come of age. Namely James Fenimore Cooper s â€Å"Natty Bumppo† and Herman Melville s â€Å"Captain Ahab† 4. Westerners were also most of the time hampered by geography, ill informedness, superstitions, provincial, and fiery nature. Which in many situations†¦show more content†¦5. George Catlin was a famous American artist that painted western scenes and many Native Americans. Under his suggestion Yellowstone became the first national park C. The March of Millions 1. This westward march and the expansive land meant that American population would grow large. It doubled every 25 years in the 1800’s 2. At this period (1860) there were 33 states and America was the fourth most populous country in the world. 3. By this time there were 43 cities that had over more than 20,000 people. About 300 cities had 5,000 people or above. 4. There were by-products however to this. There was poor sanitation, poor water, bad lighting, rats, etc. 5. This increase came from a birth rate increase, but also immigration into the United States. The Irish and the Germans accounted for most of the immigration. 6. They saw the American availability of land, religious freedom, lack of war, more food, and mainly for a better life than the one in Europe. 7. Europe also was having a problem with population. The Old World population tended to double and there was a surplus of people. This surplus was a forebringer for the mass displacement of people. They were displaced before they had moved to America D. The Emerald Isle Moves West 1. In Ireland the potato crop had failed due to a rampant parasite. 2,000,000 people had died and the mass migration to America had been swung in motion. 2. This Famine caused