Although the Missouri Compromise and the California Gold Rush both had a major influence on Westward Expansion, the former stands out as the most revolutionary historical event. Beginning in 1848, the Gold Rush brought thousands of people to California in search of wealth, fundamentally changing the American West’s geography. In addition to increased tensions over land and resources, notably with Indigenous peoples, it resulted in fast population expansion, the creation of new settlements, and a surge in economic activity (Schroeder, 2021). Many people were inspired to view this expansion as a divine mission by the promise of money and opportunity, which personified the spirit of Manifest Destiny.
Both the Missouri Compromise and the California Gold Rush were significantly impacted by the philosophy of Manifest Destiny, which held that Americans were destined to colonize the entire continent. This ideology, which presented aggressive westward migration as a divine right, justified it. When the Gold Rush started in 1848, people were inspired to explore new areas because they thought they were carrying out a mission for the country (Snyder, 2015). The prospect of prosperity increased disputes over land and resources as settlers rushed to California, especially with Indigenous peoples (Snyder, 2015). As the country grew westward, the Missouri Compromise balanced the interests of slave and free states in an effort to alleviate the conflicts that resulted from this expansionist mentality (Purcell, 2020). Ultimately, Manifest Destiny acted as both a driving force for settlement and a catalyst for conflict, reshaping the American landscape (Snyder, 2015) Manifest Destiny and the Mexican War of 1846
