Essential Questions & answers
How do citizens, civic ideals, and government institutions interact to balance the needs of individuals and the common good?
A1
Events during the Manifest Destiny have clearly shown the government’s support for western exploration and for those hoping to benefit from the trade. To gain access to more land and resources, after annexing Texas, America battled Mexico in the Mexican American War. After acquiring the land, the Santa Fe Trail no longer remained an international route but a national commercial highway. Noticing its positive impact on many lives as well as the economic advantages it provided, the government set up forts along the way to protect those traveling the trail and to ensure that issues between Native American Groups and travelers did not escalate into violence. Furthermore, the government also provided surveyors the task of officially mapping out the Santa Fe and Old Spanish Trails, hence making the routes even more accessible to the public.
B
How do physical geography, human geography, and the human environment interact to influence or determine the development of cultures, societies, and nations?
Considering the west’s topographical differences from the Great Plains and the east as well as the fact that most people who settled westwards made the decision long after America’s independence, it can be concluded that development, both economically and culturally, was different. First of all, since the land previously belonged to Spain and then Mexico before being granted to the United States, most of the settlers in places like Santa Fe had no access to some goods. Their livelihood was also based on ranching and other industries common in rugged areas. As many Americans started moving westward, they also adopted these industries. Overall, the geography of the west impacted the lives of its original inhabitants, and many Americans who settled there began adopting a similar lifestyle. Also, the connection that was developed with the west allowed for its infrastructure to develop as the years went by - had it been disconnected, the area would not have developed properly.
C2
How have the scientific and technological developments over the course of history changed the way people live and economies and governments function?
The Spanish had barred any American traders but following Mexico’s independence in 1821, Americans were able to successfully trade items like cotton cloth and calico for large sums of money. Basically, the rugged terrain as well as the geopolitical situation had initially left the southwest disconnected. However, following the development of the trails, Americans were able to trade with Native American tribes as well as others settled in the west. The trails were major commercial routes - the Old Spanish Trail was especially important because it was able to successfully connect landlocked states like New Mexico to Pacific Trade. Overall, the Santa Fe and Old Spanish trails allowed for the development of better connections between the west and east and introduced new economic opportunities.