Westward Expansion refers to the 19th-century movement of Americans into the Western United States, particularly the territory that now constitutes the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. It was a period of significant growth and settlement as Americans sought new land, resources, and opportunities beyond the Appalachian Mountains. This expansion was driven by various factors, including the desire for economic opportunities, political motives, and the belief in Manifest Destiny - the idea that it was America's destiny to expand across the continent. It led to the displacement and mistreatment of indigenous populations, the establishment of new territories and states, and the eventual creation of a transcontinental nation.
