Réponse:
Take a map of the westward expansion of the United States and what do you see? Some would say that expansion was a necessity toward Manifest Destiny. Others would say that the ambition to be prosperous and wealthy played a huge role in how the map slowly begins to stretch westward. The truth is both are part of a much larger picture in how the U.S. expanded in the post-Civil War era. We can sit here and go on and on about why, but there are reasons based on facts, events, and uncontrollable circumstances. Expansion happened the way it did for a number of reasons. We start with geographical factors that include the availability of water, fertile land, and population disbursement. Another reason is the expansion of those transportation systems and terrain features that limit transportation of vital and valuable resources. Finally we come to personal motives that sparked national interests in expansion toward the Pacific Ocean. So we can now concur that westward expansion was necessary as the population increased in the east and ambition created the drive toward the west.
Geography has always played a critical role in the disbursement and expansion of people.
Usually for the same reasons all over the world throughout history. Water is a necessary resource that we as humans need to survive. This explains the paths and clusters of U.S. citizens on the map. You can see from any map that displays this data that the majority of Americans live near water sources. Expanding to the West you can still see that same pattern. Water also holds the key to plant life and fertile land. As the population increases in a specific area, the resources in that area become tied up. The populous then proceeds to venture out in search of new vital resources. In the United States case the only unexplored area at the time was westward. West of the Mississippi River water sources become scarce in a more arid environment. The further west you get the less vital recourses you can find. Land improvements do not change that much as pioneers head west because of this factor. Populated areas spread out from all of these water sources. Once you pass the Rocky Mountains we see the land improvements pick up again. Rivers are introduced into the continent from the Pacific Ocean on the western front. Once again water being the prevalent factor.
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