Members of HUSH Block 4

This book was created and published on StoryJumper™

Publish your own children's book:

www.storyjumper.com

Throughout the history of
the United States, the country
was determined to expand as
a nation, focusing more on its
own interests rather than those of
other groups. Despite the fact that
the United States claimed to be built
on principles such as freedom and equality,
it did not treat others with the same standard.

When the United States was still
part of Britain, the settlers received
aid from the Wampanoag tribe during winter.

As time went on, the peace between the two groups became
more and more strained as settlers desired more and more resources.
Eventually, King Philip, the current chief of the Wampanoag, battled
against the settlers, and lost. This was
known as King Phillip's War. Despite all the Wampanoag had done for the
settlers, the settlers only had their best interests in mind, and didn't really
consider the interests of the Wampanoag.

After the United States became an independent nation, it began to
obtain more and more land, expanding the nation and allowing it to
gain more resources. With the Louisiana Purchase, the United States
obtained 820,000 square miles from France for $15 million. Even though the
United States considered this land its own, it did not consider the fact that there
were already people, Native Americans, occupying this land.

Property of the U.S.

While Britain was at war with France, they did not
recognize many of the freedoms the United States had at sea,
taking American ships. Such acts led the United States to declare war in the War of 1812.
After the war, the United States issued the Monroe Doctrine. One of the points included in the
doctrine was the cessation of European colonization in the Western Hemisphere, and also the
declaration that European nations interfering
with the United States was "Dangerous to our peace and safety." However, despite the fact
that the United States considered Britain a threat to the people of the nation by infringing upon
the rights of the country, it often did not consider its similar actions toward Native
Americans as being a threat toward them. The United States recognized threats to itself, yet did
not recognize threats it created for other groups.

Mexico began allowing settlers onto the land of Texas if
they agreed to follow certain terms, such as converting to
Catholicism. However, many of the settlers came to Texas without
obeying the grounds set by Mexico. Eventually, the
occupants of Texas won independence from Mexico. James Polk, the
president during that time, wanted to annex Texas.
Mexico was concerned that if the U.S. annexed Texas, it would
continue to expand, and eventually treat Mexico poorly. Despite this concern,
Polk still supported the annexation of Texas.

Texas

Many Americans believed that they were destined to
take the west and put it to its best use. They believed
that the land was given to them by God for them to
spread their "superior" principles. The country especially
wanted California. However, Mexico was in the way. The
desire for more land caused the United States to come into
conflict with Mexico. In the end, the United States won and
gained land from Mexico in the Mexican-American War.

As the United States expanded, the desire to connect the
East and the West of the United States also grew.
If the United States was connected by a railroad, goods
could be transported from one side of the country to the
other. Thus, the Transcontinental Railroad was created.

EastWest

As the United States expanded, it encountered more and
more Native Americans. Due to the fact that the United
States desired to expand, and viewed Native Americans as
inferiors, the country began forcing the Native Americans
to move off their land and onto reservations.

Reservation

United States

Even the Cherokee, who made many attempts to merge into
white society, were forced to move onto reservations when
gold was discovered on their lands. The United States was willing
to move an entire group of people for gold, without considering how
it would affect them.