Pros And Cons Of Westward Expansion

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Westward expansion could be dangerous and potentially fatal, but to most people it was worth the risk because of the riches they could acquire. There were many advantages of moving away from home to the Western United States. Some religions, like the Mormons, moved west because of religious persecution. They moved to the Great Basin and established a center for what would become a major religion in the future without other religions towering over them. Missionaries moved west and attempted to convert the Native Americans there to Christianity. The allure of gold also helped move Easterners to the West. In 1849, many settlers hastened west because of the California Gold Rush, which yielded large profits to many Americans.The Chinese also heard

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