Age of Imperialism and Reform: Domestic Policy Westward Expansion in the United States that led to Expanding interest/influence in Latin America and Asia.

Manifest Destiny Manifest Destiny is the belief that “God” wants the United States to own and control all of the lands in the United States from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. This painting (circa 1872) by John Gast called American Progress, leads civilization westward with American settlers.

Causes for Westward Expansion after the Civil War : 1.) Southern land, crops, animals, cities were destroyed and/or ravaged by the war. Railroads were demolished and people were displaced and needed places to relocate.

2.) Completion of the Transcontinental railroad in 1869 made movement of people and transportation of products easier, safer, and faster across the United States. Causes for Westward Expansion after the Civil War :

3.) Settlement of the West was encouraged by lure of cheap land, mineral discoveries, farming and ranching Causes for Westward Expansion after the Civil War :

4.) Growth of factories and cities is one factor that resulted from an overabundance of immigrant labor arriving from Europe and Asia and an abundance of natural resources. Causes for Westward Expansion after the Civil War :

5.) All of these factors increased the need for a quicker water route between the industrial centers of the Eastern U.S. and markets on the West Coast and in Asia. This caused a movement to build the Panama Canal which was completed in Causes for Westward Expansion after the Civil War :

6.) The Panama Canal: made travel faster and shorter from Atlantic to Pacific Ocean and increased possibility of trade and movement. Built on the isthmus of Panama because it was the most narrowest piece of land across the Americas. Causes for Westward Expansion after the Civil War :

7.) Building the Panama Canal created a U.S. presence in Panama until and its initial work led to engineering discoveries and medical solutions to problems of malaria and yellow fever. Causes for Westward Expansion after the Civil War :

Imperialism Imperialism is the forceful control by a country over another countries markets and lands. They are territories but not colonies.