Map Observations

The Map shows the growth of communications in the States. In 1850, the only way to commute was to travel through the rivers such as the Mississippi river which was one of the main navigable rivers to get to the west. There were also major Western trails, such as the Platte Trail and the Santa Fe Trail.
By the 1860's, small rail lines were constructed in the East, only transporting people east of the mississippi river. It wasn;t until the 1900's that transcontinental railways were constructed, connecting the east to the west. This allowed America to slowly grow towards the west.


Map three shows the territorial growth of America. America started off with 13 states, whicih clung to the atlantic coast, In 1783, due to the revolutionary war, Britain cedes all land east of the mississippi river. In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson purchased Louissiana from France. This helped double the size the nation.

By 1819, Spain held the land to the west and south. Florida was ceaded to the United States.

By the 1830's texas became an independent state....

Map 4 shows us that the west had many areas with less than 8 inches of rainfall annually- suggesting the wests lack of water. Most of the chief navigable rivers only run to the midwest of the nation.

Map 5 shows us that by 1750, eastern America was well settled. It shows us that as you move through to the west, many areas only had a population density of less than 2 percent per squaremile. Map 6 also shows us that east of the mississippi river, the population was high , with over 45 people per square mile living in the east. A maximum of 18 per square mile were living in the west, but the majority of the west was populated with a population of 2 per square mile.