How did Western expansion transform the nation?
Western expansion transformed the nation by expanding the United States' borders "from sea to shining sea". The Louisiana Purchase nearly doubled the size of the nation and paved the way for expanding the United States. The Lewis and Clark expedition gave Americans the first look as to what the west was like. The expedition also helped the United States form peaceful relationships with the Native Americans, discover that the Northwest passage did not exist, map the new territory, and collect samples of the flora and fauna. In the War of 1812, the United States beat the most powerful army in the world for the second time. This victory forced Britain and the rest of the world to accept the United States as an independent nation and to give up hopes of regaining territory in the United States. The Oregon Trail encouraged migration west and developed territory in Oregon. Traveling west was possible with the Oregon Trail. The Mexican American War ended with the United States gaining the territories in California, Nevada, Utah, parts of Colorado, parts of Wyoming, Arizona, and New Mexico, greatly increasing the size of the nation. The California Gold Rush developed California. Thousands of people went to California to gain wealth through gold; even after the California Gold Rush ended, the area remained developed. The Missouri Compromise helped maintain a crucial balance in Congress between states that allowed slavery and states that did not. Westward expansion did not bring good for all people. Many groups of Native Americans lost their land and were forced to move out.