Looking Back at History: The Old West

Over the past few weeks now I've found myself deeply emerged into the history, literature, and culture of the American Old West. Perhaps it may be because we're in the start of the fall-season here, and I do tend to enjoy the open country much more in this time. It's an area I've always strayed clear of, thinking it to be too old-fashioned and conservative for my tastes. Yet recently I have come to realize that if ever I am to be a history teacher, I should know every aspect of American history, and this section is a very important part of our heritage. With my free time during the days, I've been doing extra research on the internet, movies, games, and books and have become very interested in this Old Western culture. I intend to make several posts to come concerning the American Old West...

The History

The Time period I've been focusing on begins with the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 and ends with the Civil War of 1865... It's during these 60 years that the primary territory of our country is established. In this study, I can't help but notice an underlying theme of greed for expansion and wealth.

• Louisiana Purchase (1803) President Thomas Jefferson decided it was unwise to allow the French total control of the port of New Orleans and therefore purchased the vast 828,000 square miles from Napoleon Bonaparte. At the time Napoleon was skeptical about the negotiation, yet needed the finances due to his war in Europe. The purchase included the states of Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado.

• War of 1812 (1812-1815) The United States declared war on the British Empire due to various reasons mostly concerning trade restrictions and the British support of Native Americans. Due to their war with Napoleon, the British maintained a defensive stance in the beginning. Yet in the year 1814, following their defeat of Napoleon, they adopted a more aggressive stance, and won victories over Bladensburg as well as the infamous burning of Washington (which led to the Star-Spangled Banner)... The Americans were able to repeal these attacks at New York and New Orleans, and in 1815 signed the Treaty of Ghent to welcome peaceful relations with the British Empire.

• Trail of Tears (1831-1837) With the Passage of the Indian Removal Act of 1830, President Andrew Jackson implemented a removal of the Native Americans to the West. His intentions were to open up more territory for white settlers. Indians were thus forced to relocate to present day Oklahoma, where many died en route.

• Oregon Trail (1830-1870) Was a 2000 mile wagon-route stretching east-to-west beginning along the Missouri River and ending in Oregon Country. The expedition was made by many emigrants from the Midwest, looking for a new life and settlement. The journey lasted around four-to-six months, and was extremely tedious. The trail was also used for the California Trail, the Bozeman Trail, and the Mormon Trail. The harsh journey was made by over 400,000 emigrants until 1969 when the Transcontinental railroad was finished.

• Texas Revolution (1835-1836) In 1830 the Mexican government began to grow afraid of the growing number of American settlers in their land, and passed new laws and higher taxes on them. It wasn't long until rebellion and violence broke out, and on October 2, 1835 the Texan Rebels began their war with Mexico. After a hard defeat at the Alamo in San Antonio, the rebels were hungry for revenge and finally won their independence at the battle of San Jacinto.

• Mexican-American War (1846-1848) One of President James K. Polk's biggest goals was a territorial expansion to the Pacific, which meant having Texas annexed as a state, as well as it's surrounding territory. Therefore his plan was put into action with an invasion of New Mexico, California, and other parts of Northern Mexico. The war came to an end when American General Winfield Scott captured Mexico City, leading to the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo. Mexico was forced to give up much of it's land, and accepted the Rio Grande as their national border.

• California Gold Rush (1848) Following the defeat of Mexico, gold was discovered in California, which lead to over 300,000 migrants to settle in the land. These gold-seekers became known as 49ers, and experienced many hardships on their journey, similar to the Oregon Trail. The effects of the Gold Rush, formed many settlements and cities, such as San Francisco, and eventually allowed California to become a state in 1850.

• Bleeding Kansas (1855-1858) The conflict began with the question of whether Kansas should enter the union as a free-state or a slavery-state. This eventually led a series of violent events within the states between northerners and southerners. Such leading commanders of the proxy war was the the radical abolitionist, John Brown, who felt the only way to achieve freedom for the slaves was through violence. He was eventually hanged in 1859 for his radical actions. The abolitionists were eventually successful and Kansas was admitted as a free-state to the Union shortly before the Battle of Ft. Sumter.

• Dred Scott Decision (1857) The case began when African-American slave, Dred Scott, sued the federal court for his freedom. The US Supreme Court eventually ruled that people of African descent were not protected by the constitution, could never become US citizens, and were quite plainly considered as inferiors. This result of this case became clear to many, that the only way to solve the slave issue was through open-civil war.

• Civil War (1861-1865) After years of tension between the Northern free states and the Southern Slave states, the American Civil War finally kicked off with the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter. This eventually led to President Abraham Lincoln declaring war on the Confederate South, and leading an invasion to re-unite the Country. The war lasted a good five years, and finally resulted with a Union Victory, preserving the American territory as well as abolishing slavery.