What is westward expansion?

There was a whole continent to explore that offered a range of different climates, geographical features, vegetation, animals and raw materials. read more

Find out more about the history of Westward Expansion, including videos, interesting articles, pictures, historical features and more. Get all the facts on HISTORY.com. read more

Westward Expansion and the Compromise of 1850 In 1848, the Treaty of Guadelupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican War and added more than 1 million square miles, an area larger than the Louisiana Purchase, to the United States. read more

The California Gold Rush was a major factor in expansion west of the Mississippi. That westward expansion was greatly aided by the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869, and passage of the Homestead Act in 1862. read more