tell me about the westward migration in the post-civil war period?

Question

dont give me a link please, i want to hear what was significant in this subject.. and if you can, put it in simpler terms then the text books

Answer 1

There were vast areas of the central and western portion of the U.S. that was extremely fertile and open for farming and ranching. With the advent of wagon trains, stage coach and railroad it made this area more accessible.

Prior to the civil war the U.S. didn't have adequate forces to protect against attack from Indian Nations. During the Civil War we had a huge military resources but nearly all of it was committed to the actions taken during the Civil War. After the War, many of these forces were shipped westward to establish posts to protect settlers.

The discovery of mineral wealth (gold and silver) in the central portion of the U.S. (from the Black Hills of the Dakotas, through Colorado and Arizona) brought many settlers to that region in hopes of wealth and prosperity.

p.s. If you can find one, look at a U.S. map with the counties or parrishes in each state. It becomes obvious what areas were settled prior to the Civil War and which areas weren't. Prior to the Civil War counties were small; after the Civil War counties that were established were three or four times the size of older, more settled counties. (It gives you a good idea of where we were as a country that was still being settled.)