compare and contrast the impact of the United States' westward expansion from the perspectives of settlers vs. the perspectives of Indigenous people already living in the region.
The westward expansion of the United States had a significant impact on both settlers and Indigenous people. However, their perspectives on this expansion differ greatly.
Settlers saw the westward expansion as an opportunity to improve their economic prospects and achieve greater social mobility. They saw the vast untapped resources and the vast tracts of land as a chance to build a new home and achieve financial stability. They migrated west either alone or in large groups known as wagon trains, and often faced hardships along the way, including inclement weather, disease, and attacks by wild animals and Indigenous people.
On the other hand, Indigenous people saw the westward expansion as a threat to their way of life and their cultural identity. The arrival of settlers often meant the loss of their land, sacred places, and livelihoods. The settlers took over the land, hunted game, killed bison, and contaminated water sources, causing the Indigenous tribes to suffer from food and water shortages.
Indigenous people were often forced to relocate to unfamiliar and less desirable lands and subjected to violence, forced labor, and assimilation efforts. Massacres like the Sand Creek Massacre, Wounded Knee Incident, and Trail of Tears became painful memories for those Indigenous people that survived.
In conclusion, the westward expansion of the United States had both positive and negative impacts, but these varied depending on the lens through which one examines them. The settlers saw it as an opportunity to build a new life, while Indigenous people saw it as another violent disruption to their way of life. Ultimately, the westward movement of settlers led to the displacement, removal and annihilation of many Indigenous people.