An Analysis of the Two-Edged Factors in American Westward Movement孙天帅
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 prent situation of the United States of America. Particularly, Westward Movement has eped into this young nationality on its cultural influence. However, at the same time Westward Movement is also the Indians’ tragic history. Is Westward Movement civilized or barbaric, successful or not? To answer the questions this thesis mainly analyzes American Westward Movement from a historical angle to help us to recognize American culture and history. For this purpo, this thesis discuss 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
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高中题目摘 要
19世纪的美国“西进运动”实际上是美国经济与领土扩张的一次大规模进程。它对于美利坚民族的形成、发展与现状都起了重要的作用。尤其是它对美国的文化影响，更是渗透进了这个年轻的民族。然而，“西进运动”同时也是印地安人民的血泪史！美国“西进运动”是文明还是野蛮、是成功还是失败？带着这些问题本文主要通过对美国“西进运动”的历史辩证地分析，以达到深刻了解、分析美国文化历史，并正确认识和看待美国文化历史。基于这一目的，本文主要探讨“西进运动”对于美国经济推动、民族性格、价值观的形成等积极影响，并真实地反映其阴暗面，正确看待历史，做到一分为二地分析问题。
关键词
红色故事会西进运动；民族性格；拓荒者；印第安文化
江南园林
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.” [1] (P136) 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.
By 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. Firstly, capita
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listic 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 progresd 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 dia, tho survival Indian tribes have suffered so-called genocide and culture extinction. The two opposite and related sides of Westward Movement are compod of the main melody of the development of America in 19th century.
I. The Positive Contributions 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 ries 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 were policies of fostering dev
elopment of education, attracting more foreign investment, perfect manpower, environmental protection and so the like. [2] (P365-412) Under the 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.
A. Promoting American Economic Development屏幕校正
Western exploitation utterly changed American appearance: large quantities of barren lands were reclaimed; a lot of capital farms were t up; the development of agriculture in west provided a large amount of food, material and domestic market on industrial development; nature recours 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
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0的相反数是什么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. ” [3] (P23) The economists Falkland of the U.S. Economy School said: “No other county in the history like America has such 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.” [1] (P142).
