Spreading WestCities Western migration 1803 Louisiana Purchase 1804-1806 Lewis and Clark expedition 1825 Erie Canal |
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Spreading Out Americans are now beginning to spread west and south. The left-hand map shows northern states, where wagon trails now extend into western New York and Pennsylvania. The right-hand map shows migration patterns in the South, flowing down from Virginia into the Carolinas. The trail into Kentucky has just been opened, starting a land rush out of Virginia into virgin Kentucky. BLUE highlights indicate southern marshy areas, which extend well inland. | |||||||||
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On Into Kentucky While Northerners are beginning to pick their way west, through the northern Appalachians, Southerners are faced with an almost unbroken set of ridges, which have so far defeated all attempts to cross by wagon. Finally, frontiersman Daniel Boone clears a narrow trail into Kentucky, by way of the Cumberland Gap. Still, this 'Wilderness Road' is too narrow and rough for wagons, at least at first. Early pioneers have to make their way on foot, carrying everything they need on pack animals. | |||||||||
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America Gets Bigger The purchase of the Louisiana Territory in 1803 suddenly doubles the size of the country, overnight. The French recently acquired title to this territory from the Spanish, but the new French leader, Bonaparte, needs money to finance his European ambitions. He is willing to pass it on to the Americans for a mere $15 million. From this point forward, Americans will continue to rush madly towards the Pacific Coast, in fulfillment of what appears to be America's God-given destiny to span the continent. | |||||||||
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Empty Expanse The new Louisiana Territory presents an immense opportunity. Who knows what riches it might contain? President Jefferson commissions the Lewis and Clark Expedition to find out. It spends the first year poling its way up the Missouri River, all the way to the great mountain barrier where the Louisiana Territory ends. It continues on foot to the Columbia River, floating down to the sea. The expedition returns with the disappointing news that the territory appears to be mostly too dry for settlement. | |||||||||
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First Industry America's first factories are built for the textile industry, which produces fabric for clothing. This begins with simple water-powered mills, that just spin raw wool or flax into thin yarn (GREEN circles). The yarn is then woven into fabric on simple hand looms, often by women working at home. Newly-developed power looms are introduced on an industrial scale at a huge new mill complex in Massachusetts (RED square). The new cotton gin allows using cotton fibers, for the first time, which produces a softer cloth. | |||||||||