Lesson 4: Westward Movement

Key Idea

By the early 1800s, the population in the eastern states was growing rapidly. This growth made land expensive and scarce. For many Americans, owning a farm and building a better life seemed out of reach in the crowded East.

The West offered the promise of economic opportunity. Settlers dreamed of owning affordable land to start their own farms. Other groups moved west seeking religious freedom, hoping to build communities where they could practice their beliefs without interference.

Key Idea

Despite its weaknesses, the Confederation Congress successfully organized the vast lands west of the Appalachian Mountains. To create an orderly system for settlement, Congress passed the Ordinance of 1785. This law established a method for surveying the land and dividing it into townships and sections that could be sold to settlers and the government.

Two years later, Congress passed the even more significant Northwest Ordinance of 1787. This law created a clear path for territories to become states with the same rights as the original thirteen. It also famously banned slavery in the Northwest Territory, a region north of the Ohio River. These land policies were the government's greatest achievement.

Key Idea

In the early 1800s, a transportation revolution began to change how people and goods moved. Steamboats made river travel faster and more reliable, while man-made canals created new shipping routes between major waterways.

Soon, sleek clipper ships sped up ocean travel. Most importantly, thousands of miles of railroads were laid across the country. This new network of tracks firmly connected the growing Midwest with the industrial East.

Key Idea

After the War of 1812, leaders wanted the United States to become economically strong and self-sufficient. Congressman Henry Clay championed a plan to achieve this goal called the American System, which aimed to build a thriving national economy from the inside out.

The plan had three key parts: a national bank to provide a stable currency, a protective tariff (tax) to help American factories, and federal spending on internal improvements. These projects, like new roads and canals, would connect the different regions of the country.