The American West Stephen Aron Summary

The American West by Stephen Aron discusses the author’s research on America’s history and expansion into the western part of the United States. After Columbus discovered what he viewed as a new world in 1492, explorers began to venture into the country. These first explorers had the intention of looking for resources, but as time went by they started to settle permanently. Colonies in the eastern United States became established and the growing country faced mounting pressures to start exploring and expanding into the west. Within the book, Aron discusses the motives of looking for resources and the expansion of lands and the impact colonization had on Native Americans, as well as acknowledging distorted colonial viewpoints of the history …show more content…
Mexican explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado ventured north from Mexico after hearing about cities of gold. While de Coronado did not find gold, he was motivated by the resources that the west could possibly provide. Others just like him passed through with the same intention of gaining resources, either from the land itself or through trade with natives. Resources the land could provide were big factors when colonists decided to venture outwards into the west and settle. New Mexico did not have any precious metals or other resources and therefore did not attract Europeans to settle. The lack of white populations made it hard to quell Indian activities and uprisings, further making settling in New Mexico unsuccessful. As America developed, larger corporations became more impactful on the economic development of the west through processing of natural resources. Opportunities like those enticed colonists to settle in the arid Great American Desert where the mining of precious metals eventually formed metropolitan areas around sources. The discovery of gold lured many settlers travel across the country in hopes of making a fortune. Aron repeatedly impresses upon readers that the desire for land and resources are the prime motives of colonies’ expansion into the West. Places that could provide ample resources were successful, and those …show more content…
Before colonization, Native Americans relied mainly on hunting, fishing, and gathering. When resources ran out they would simply relocate, giving them an adaptability that would help buffer some of the ill effects of colonization. Disease brought by Columbus and other Europeans is one of the main causes of destruction to Indian populations. However, Aron notes that the actions of colonization was also very important in the downfall of Indians. At first, Native Americans seemed to be handling colonization fairly well by resisting and keeping the their lands. This was fairly easy as Europeans in the 16th century were mainly interested in demanding tribute than occupying lands. The Indians held their ground though, as “Well into the 18th century, the vast majority of North American Indians had not become the subordinates of European colonizers. In fact, in most places there were no European settlements yet.” (16). The limited power can also be seen as Spaniards in New Mexico overpowered the Pueblo Indians, yet could not force them to give up their native religion. As time passed, many generations of cross cultural exchange allowed the Native Americans to adapt to colonial ways. However, this adaptation was not enough. The first decades of the 19th century marked the start of an anti Indian sentiment, which meant removal without regards to the lives that were destroyed. The presidency of