DBQ Essay
The mass development of the West beyond the Mississippi did not occur until the 1860s in the middle of the Reconstruction Era. The environment helped shape this development and the lives of those who not only lived there but came to settle there as well. Both political and economical factors also helped for this expansion to occur. The settlement on these Great Plains, which came to be known as the “Great American Dessert” will leave large scars on the land as well on the inhabitants that once called it their home.
Stephen Long claimed that the area of the Semi-arid West (Doc. A) was uninhabitable and that with so little rainfall, agriculture could not thrive. However, his picture was thrown away when people began to be convinced that it really was a “Great American Dessert” where one could escape to from society and be in a beautiful new home. However, once they were there it was a completely different story. Even when a man named Levi Savage tried to......
Join Now or Login to view the rest of this paper.
Approximate Word Count: 749
Approximate Pages: 3 (260 words per double-spaced page) |