America: the Land of Opportunities

After the War of 1812, the new western frontier, the industrial revolution and the transportation revolution provided new opportunities for Americans. Despite the many opportunities the Native American Indians and the African slaves had very little offered to them.
The new western frontier had numerous opportunities for Americans. The frontier initially was attractive to the farmers of the East Coast. The land’s soil was richer whereas the east farmland was sandy; therefore the opportunities of producing a high yielding crop was higher. Land was less expensive and easier to obtain. “Government land after 1820 could be bought for $1.25 for about half a hectare and after the 1862 Homestead Act, could be claimed by merely occupying and improving it” (Westward Expansion and Regional Difference 2). The farmers had to be hunters as well. The hunters, primarily men, left their home for days at a time to hunt. The men as hunters often left the women at home. Loneliness was common a...