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The Homestead Act was a law that allowed any American to claim up 160 acre-plots of public land for a small price. This civil war era law was to encourage Americans to settle the western frontier. Signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862, this law will remain on the books until 1976. (Works Cited)

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The Pony Express was a U.S. mail delivery service of a horse to rider relays that lasted from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California. The U.S. mail service would travel 2,000 miles in 10 days to deliver mail to settlements in the west. The use of the Pony express only lasted from April 1860-October 1861 due to the cost of upkeep for horses and riders. The Pony Express will get replaced by the new telegraph system that was being laid by the Transcontinental Railroad. (Works Cited)

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California joins the United States union on September 9th, 1850 as the 31st state. Initially a spoil of the Mexican-American War, California will be one of the few states that did not have to become a formal territory before given statehood. The events from the Gold Rush helped propel California statehood as it triggered a massive population boom in the territory. (Works Cited)

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The American Gold Rush would begin in 1849 triggering the swift settlement of California. The rush started after Gold Nuggets were pulled from the Sacramento Valley. This would lead to a population jump of 1,000 to 100,000 in just one year. Over a course of four years, almost 2 billion dollars worth of precious metal will be pulled from California. The prospects that would appear would be nicknamed the '49ers after the year the Gold Rush started. (Works Cited)

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The Mexican-American War took place between 1846 to 1848. The war was caused by the expansionist agenda of President James A Polk to incorporate Mexican land north of the Rio Grande River. This would include the land that would eventually become Arizona, New Mexico, & California. The war would come to an end after American troops successfully advanced on the Mexican capital of Mexico City. The United States will gain the disputed Mexican territory to aid in the development of the Western Frontier. (Works Cited)

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The state of Texas will be annexed from Mexico in the year 1845 and will be the starting point of the Mexican-American War. While a Mexican territory, Texas will see American settlement starting as early as 1830. By 1835, a group of American settlers will form a provisional government and call for independence in 1836. As independence was granted, the new country will become the Republic of Texas and will stay an independent country for nine years until it is brought into the United States union as the 28th state. (Works Cited)

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Manifest Destiny was the movement to encourage Americans to settle into the American west. It was believed that America was destined to spread democracy and capitalism across North America. (Works Cited) Completed by Mrs. Baker-Delaney.

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The Oregon Trail was a 2,000-mile journey from Independence, Missouri to Oregon City, Oregon. The journey was extremely arduous. It went over various types of terrain and could take anywhere from 6 months to a year to complete. This trail pioneered settlement in the American West. (Works Cited) Completed by Mrs. Baker-Delaney.