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Westward Expansion
Vocabulary key terms related to the Westward Expansion
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Manifest Destiny | The 19th-century belief that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. |
| Homestead Act (1862) | A law that provided 160 acres of public land to settlers for free, provided they lived on and improved the land for five years. |
| Transcontinental Railroad | A railway system completed in 1869 that connected the eastern and western parts of the United States, facilitating commerce and settlement. |
| Gold Rush | A rapid influx of settlers to areas where gold was discovered, notably the California Gold Rush of 1849, leading to significant population growth and economic development. |
| Reservation | Land designated by the U.S. government for Native American tribes, often as a result of displacement due to westward expansion. |