Westward Expansion, Pioneers Development of American Character and Culture TLO: American and National Identity Westward Expansion -Manifest Destiny - Annexation of Texas -Mexican-American War (Guadalupe-Hidalgo Treaty) Government Role Gov helped facilitate western expansion thru funding of infrastructure that connected unsettled west to the eastern side of the country -American System (although it didn?t actually do it, state governments eventually did the job of creating better infrastructure (roads etc) that the american system was partially intended for) Opportunity! The opportunities provided by the west produced incentives for more westward migration Livestock farming thrived thanks to bluegrass Fur trapping was rewarding for the first few decades