英语论文美国西进运动的意义

焦作大学外国语学院学生毕业论文

The Significance of American Western Movement

Abstract

：

American Westward Movement in 19th century, in fact, is a large-scale

advancement of American economy exploitation and a territorial expansion. It plays a

vital role in the formation, the development and the present situation of the United

States of America. Particularly, Westward Movement has seeped into this young

nationality on its cultural influence. To answer these questions this thesis mainly

analyzes American Westward Movement from a historical angle to help us to

recognize American culture and history. For this purpose, this thesis discusses

Westward Movement’s influences on American economy, its national characteristic

and the formation of its values. Also, the writer reflects its dark side in the thesis.

Key Words

：

Westward Movement; national character; pioneer; Indian culture

I. Introduction

American Westward Movement in the 19th century was the process of economy

exploitation and territory expansion waged by the Americans from Appalachian

Mountains to the west from the end of 18th century to the end of 19th century. It

lasted about one hundred years, and American territory was expanded from the 13

colonies at the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in the Independence War to the vast

area-the shore of the Pacific Ocean. This movement was a space and time-spanning,

large-scale, and far-

reaching social migrant. “Till now, to a certain extent, the history

of America can be said that it is a history of colonizing.” The first period of Westward

Movement was from the American War of Independence to the period of the Civil

War. During this period, it mainly developed agriculture. The west land was very

important for USA after its independence. But for Westward Movement, there would

be no today’s America.

B

y expanding the nation’s borders to include more than three million square

miles, the United States became one of the most powerful nations of the 20th century.

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焦作大学外国语学院学生毕业论文

Firstly, capitalistic agriculture grew up, and then animal husbandry, commerce,

mining, and industry were following up. At last, it existed a situation in which

agriculture and animal husbandry developed at the same time, industry and agriculture

promoted each other, transportation and commerce trade progressed overall.

However, this expansion also resulted in great suffering, destruction, and

cultural loss for the Native Americans of North America. Is Westward Movement

barbaric or civilized? The answer is not absolute. Karl Max materialism holds that

every thing has two sides. We should make a concrete and historical analysis. In

Westward Movement, we speak of not only its civilization but its barbarity. Under the

whites’ bullet and natural acute disease, those survival Indian tribes have suffered

so-called genocide and culture extinction. The two opposite and related sides of

Westward Movement are composed of the main melody of the development of

America in 19th century.

II. The Significance of American Westward Movement

As the first independent capitalism country of the mainland of America, the birth

of the new USA symbolized the tremendous leap in American history. Newly

independent America drew on the policy of western aggrandizement. On one hand,

thousands upon thousand immigrants moved from east to west. On the other hand, the

whole country changed from an agriculture country to an industrial country. Finally it

helped to bring about a birth of modern USA.

During Westward Movement, the government laid out a series of policies, such

as immigrant policy and capital investment. Between 1820

～

1860

，

about five million

immigrants came into USA, it provided adequate labors. Furthermore, the Homestead

Act of 1862 was the important legislative act of 19th century. The land policy of

American government at that moment provided institution and policy guarantee for

peasants to get the soils and develop agriculture. Therefore, it promoted the westward

exploitation, and also spurred USA to a great agriculture country rapidly. During

1815-1840, government invested 125 million dollars to every state for building 3000

miles’ canal. This period American transportation got a big boost. For another, there

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焦作大学外国语学院学生毕业论文

were policies of fostering development of education, attracting more foreign

investment, perfect manpower, environmental protection and so the like. Under these

effective strategies, American people constantly opened up. This westward movement,

across what was often called the American frontier, was of enormous significance.

They not only contributed to the expansion of American territory, influence on

American politics

，

but also formed American characters. At last, the frontier life in

Westward Movement brought plentiful source material to American culture and art in

the future.

2.1.

Promoting American Economic Development

Western exploitation utterly changed American appearance: large quantities of

barren lands were reclaimed; a lot of capital farms were set up; the development of

agriculture in west provided a large amount of food, material and domestic market on

industrial development; nature recourses were opened up to develop industries.

Furthermore, trade and transportation had got new leaps……A well

-known British

statisticians Parker said in the book of the Secret of American Economic Success:

“The

United States is in an especially outstanding natural environment. She can enjoy

the commercial marine. The Easters Ports are open to the busiest Europe. The United

States is leading the development of the world. ” The economists Falkland of the U.S.

Economy School said: “No other county in the history like America has su

ch

abundant resources. As one of the large industrial countries, America must have a

large number of important minerals. Westward Movement stimulates creativity and

economic vitality of the United States. It is enhancing the Comprehensive national

strength and international status in the United States. It is paving the way of the

economy of the United States.” However, recalling the history of the developing

process of the United States, the first 13 British colonies before independence had

only a small place from Appalachian Mountains to the east of the Atlantic coastal strip.

The outstanding nature conditions were mainly brought for the expansion nearly

100-year-westward movement. It is easy for us to get achievements Westward

Movement created and fostered the situation of America.

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焦作大学外国语学院学生毕业论文

2.2.

Shaping American Characteristics

Western unique survival requirement formed important attribute which molded

the American nationality disposition and the values, and it also planted the spirit and

the dream of the American. The frontier experience encouraged the development of

certain

to make many items they might otherwise have traded for or bought. They built their

own houses and barns and produced their own food. They made their own candles,

clothing, furniture, pots, tools, and other necessities. As jacks of all trades, pioneers

became inventive and self-reliant. In addition, frontiers offered opportunities for

success to those who worked hard. As a result, pioneers tended to be optimistic about

the future and concerned with material wealth. Boastfulness and self-confidence

emerged as frontier traits as well.

2.21

The Continuous Migration and Exploitation

Westward Movement ran through the time of free capitalism. It was a mass

participation movement for exploiting the west, which carried out as individual,

family or collective. In this campaign, millions of the labor masses endured hardship

in pioneer work, they had created enormous material and spiritual wealth. The

pioneers only took along the most important living necessaries, such as seeds, farm

implements, guns, corns, domestic animals and the like. They struggled westward

across hills, mountains, and prairies on foot and on horseback. Some floated through

the Erie Canal on barges or traveled down rivers on flatboats and steamboats. Others

crossed the rugged wilderness in covered wagons. Men brought their wives and

children along, and undertake heavy tasks. Women gathered firewood and collected

manure to cook food. However the food they took along could not hold out till the

destination. Consequently, edible wild herbs and wild fruits became their

supplementary food. They experienced the simple and crude board and lodging

conditions, unpredicted weather, the dangerous shoal, cliff and precipice, bandits and

cholera, dysentery disease. All of these made them tired out, be down with illness, and

even lost their lives. Nevertheless, yearning for a better and brighter future, they put

all eggs in one basket and conquer all obstacles for striding towards the west. For

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焦作大学外国语学院学生毕业论文

many pioneers, the Cumberland Gap, the Oregon Trail, and other roads west became

paths to opportunity, and it opened wide for the most courageous and the

most decisive person. All of t

hese affect and mold Americans’ characters. Its

tremendous influences even radiate today’s Americans. Thus they are not satisfied

with the existing state perpetually, and seek their beautiful dreams constantly. So

someone calls America “a nation founding on the wheels”.

2.22.

Affection for the Work

After the early pioneers arrived in the west land, firstly, they looked for the most

favorite land. Having settled down, they set out to build their own homeland. They

drew on the local resources, and built shabby houses for their earlier living places.

Owning to the vastness of the west, they lived rather scattered one another. So the

creation of new life was very difficult. Most men had two jobs as peasants and hunters.

They planted grain and vegetables, and fed cattle and pigs. They also went to the

countryside for hunting. With the time passed, those diligent and engrave farmers sold

their running smoothly land to the new pioneers at a higher price. Then, the whole

family left and sought for another cheaper land towards the west, looking for their

new dream. For a strong and healthy man, the fertile land of the west was like a

battlefield fighting as his own will. Therefore, in their opinion it was not astonished to

build up from nothing. At that moment, their success mostly depended on their own

endeavor. Under this background, naturally, people didn’t consider that the properties

inherited from the background of their families were important; they valued

achievements gained by their own efforts highly. For this reason, all American people

made their efforts in their work. A great number of Americans take delight in doing

the job.

2.23.

Individualism

The vast field of west and the cultural difference provided an opportunity for

development of individualism. It was not necessary for pioneers to need any concept,

which had nothing to do with the urgent mission. The psychosis problems originated

from the struggle against every force of the material world. The wilderness really

exists and it must be conquered. Therefore, the character formed under such condition

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