American culture has not always been like it is now. America itself used to be only around half of its current size. With the growth of the country, also came a substantial growth in the cultural diversity. People came from all over the world and made an impact. The greatest diversity change occurred during the westward expansion, the Gold Rush, and the era of the western cowboy. Each left a lasting impact that continues to influence everyday day life for many people in America today.
Westward expansion more than doubled the size of the United States, and it helped shape the culture as well. President Thomas Jefferson paid the French government $15 million for the territory of Louisiana in 1803, in what is known as the Louisiana Purchase. …show more content…
The west attracted many settlers with its vast amounts of land available for farming and raising cattle. From the clothes they wore to their new ways of farming, western cowboys had a lot of cultural influence on America. Cowboys came from Mexico and up through Texas following their cattle to the markets in Kansas City, Kansas. They were very culturally diverse because they came “from many backgrounds and all parts of the country” (Freedman 16). Many of the clothing choices people wear today were influenced by the men of the west. They wore flannel shirts, fancy boots, and big hats which were essential to protect them from the elements while on the range, all of which are still worn today. Their clothes were meant to be practical and functional. They chose clothing that was comfortable enough to wear day and night on long cattle drives. However, cowboys took great pride in their boots and their hats. They would spend most of their paycheck to get them exquisitely designed. As important as their clothes were to them, getting the job done was their main goal. The farming techniques changed as the new settlers arrived. Typically farmers followed their cattle as they roamed free, but the “Spanish had kept their cattle penned up in pastures” (Freedman 10). The western ranchers noticed this and began to do the same. People continue to farm in this manner in today’s world. The Spanish were not the only ones to bring in new strategies though. The ranchers needed farmhands, so they taught “the local Indians to ride horses and handle cattle on the open range” (Freedman 10). These Indians developed some of their own techniques and taught the ranchers some of their cultural practices. Many cultural groups impacted American ranchers in one way or
Westward expansion more than doubled the size of the United States, and it helped shape the culture as well. President Thomas Jefferson paid the French government $15 million for the territory of Louisiana in 1803, in what is known as the Louisiana Purchase. …show more content…
The west attracted many settlers with its vast amounts of land available for farming and raising cattle. From the clothes they wore to their new ways of farming, western cowboys had a lot of cultural influence on America. Cowboys came from Mexico and up through Texas following their cattle to the markets in Kansas City, Kansas. They were very culturally diverse because they came “from many backgrounds and all parts of the country” (Freedman 16). Many of the clothing choices people wear today were influenced by the men of the west. They wore flannel shirts, fancy boots, and big hats which were essential to protect them from the elements while on the range, all of which are still worn today. Their clothes were meant to be practical and functional. They chose clothing that was comfortable enough to wear day and night on long cattle drives. However, cowboys took great pride in their boots and their hats. They would spend most of their paycheck to get them exquisitely designed. As important as their clothes were to them, getting the job done was their main goal. The farming techniques changed as the new settlers arrived. Typically farmers followed their cattle as they roamed free, but the “Spanish had kept their cattle penned up in pastures” (Freedman 10). The western ranchers noticed this and began to do the same. People continue to farm in this manner in today’s world. The Spanish were not the only ones to bring in new strategies though. The ranchers needed farmhands, so they taught “the local Indians to ride horses and handle cattle on the open range” (Freedman 10). These Indians developed some of their own techniques and taught the ranchers some of their cultural practices. Many cultural groups impacted American ranchers in one way or