The process and result of American westward movement!

The westward movement of the United States from the end of 18 to the end of 19 was a large-scale immigration and colonization movement in the United States, a process of developing the western region in the United States, and a process of urbanization, industrialization and great integration of American nations. This westward movement has had a great and far-reaching impact on American economy, politics and society. So far, an American history can be said to be a western colonial history to a great extent. The westward movement completely changed the face of the United States: large areas of wasteland were reclaimed, and a large number of capitalist farms were established. The development of agriculture in the west provided a large number of grain, raw materials, export products and domestic markets for industrial development; It has changed the layout of the labor force in the United States, promoted the formation of a unified domestic market and the rapid development of complementary trade between East and West. The development and utilization of resources in the west also meet the needs of industrial development, and the transportation industry is also developing rapidly ... The westward movement of the United States has stimulated the creativity and economic vitality of Americans, improved the comprehensive national strength and international status of the United States, and is of great significance to the take-off of the entire national economy of the United States.

The western part of the United States was a relatively backward area in the American economy at that time. As far as its geographical location and the historical background of the economic development level of the United States at that time are concerned, it is similar to the economic phenomenon of "high in the east and low in the west" presented by the eastern and western economies of China at present. Therefore, it is of certain reference value to learn from some successful experiences of the United States in the development of the western region.

1. Industrial expansion based on agriculture and animal husbandry

From the industrial point of view, the development of the western United States is basically agricultural expansion, and the reclamation of wasteland has led to the large-scale establishment of capitalist farms. No matter from the employment structure, investment and national income level of the population in the western United States at that time, for a long time, even until the middle of19th century, agriculture always accounted for the vast majority of national income, and the share of agricultural products in national exports in 1880 was as high as 83%. Even after industry replaced agriculture as the main source of American national income, agriculture still occupies a particularly important position in the economic structure of the western region. This determines the way and direction of economic development in the western United States, and ultimately determines the basic characteristics of the development of the western United States.

Second, market-oriented and economic integration.

Through the development of the western region, the unified market and economic integration between the east and the west of the United States have basically taken shape, gradually narrowing the economic gap between the east and the west and promoting the coordinated development of regional economy. By the end of 19, the pattern of unified economic division and complementary economy between the east and the west in the United States has basically taken shape: a large lake area in the northeast has become the largest manufacturing belt in the world; The midwest has become the world's largest food production distribution center; Mining in remote mountainous areas in the west occupies a unique position in the United States.

Third, take industrialization as the main body

Because the United States was a newly independent country at that time, the allocation of funds, raw materials and markets needed in the process of industrialization was solved through the development of the western region. First of all, through the rapid development of agricultural reclamation and agricultural production in the west, a large number of agricultural products and cheap labor were provided for the industrial areas in the eastern United States. Secondly, it provides a lot of funds for large-scale industrialization. Third, with the development of gold and silver mines in the western Rocky Mountains, a large number of precious metals are in the hands of the federal government, enabling it to pass the gold standard regulations in 1900 and change the gold and silver standard system into the gold standard system, which not only gives strong financial support to American industrialization, but also places American industrialization on a solid financial system foundation.

Fourth, traffic-oriented.

Many economists say that the United States in the19th century is basically a history of successful railways, and the development of the western region of the United States is based on developed transportation from beginning to end. From the construction of Lancaster Avenue at the end of 18 to the end of 19, the national railway network basically took shape. The railway mileage in the west of the Mississippi River only soared from less than 3,000 miles in 1860 to 72,000 miles in 1890, accounting for about 43% of the whole country, which had a great impact on the development of the western region and the national economy. The construction of transportation and other infrastructure has first promoted the regional specialization of the American western economy. For example, by the end of 19, the regional specialization pattern of production in the western United States had formed three major agricultural and pastoral kingdoms of wheat, cotton and animal husbandry, a mining empire in the Rocky Mountains and a manufacturing empire in the Great Lakes region. Second, it has promoted the formation of a unified national market, greatly accelerated the specialization of regional economy and the commercialization of the whole economy, thus changing the relationship between various regions in the United States.

Five, cultivate and rely on the central city as the center of economic growth.

As mentioned above, the westward movement has also promoted the urbanization process in the United States, and different regions have formed different characteristics. /kloc-the level and speed of urbanization in western China in the middle and late 9th century are higher than the national average. During the western development in 100, a large number of growth centers of different levels emerged along the railways, rivers and highways in the western Appalachian Mountains. As the center of economic growth, there are national central cities such as Chicago, as well as regional central cities with different functions such as Kansas and San Francisco. The emergence of these central cities has greatly stimulated the economic development of the western region. Cities have become the most developed and concentrated core of economy, politics, culture, art and education in the western region, and also the most concentrated places of various markets in the western region. The emergence of central cities has accelerated the development of rural urbanization and agricultural industrialization in western China.

Six, commercial or private capital as the main investment channel.

Land speculators, poor people and planters are the main driving forces of the American westward movement. It should be said that the funds of these investors mainly belong to commercial or private funds, and most of the funds needed for the development and construction of the western region of the United States have been carried out in a market-oriented and commercial operation mode from the beginning, which is another important feature of the development of the western region of the United States. On the one hand, due to the weaknesses of high cost, high price and low profit in the economic structure of Northeast China after the American industrial revolution, a large number of commercial or private capital poured into the west; On the other hand, the existence of a large number of "free land" in the west is attractive to commercial capital, and the most important thing is that it is cheap and profitable. Even for large-scale infrastructure construction such as railway construction, most of its funds are provided by private capital. The funds for western railway construction mainly come from the federal government and local governments, domestic investors and foreign investors. The federal government's policy on railway construction mainly has three ways: First, the tariff on imported railway tracks is exempted. The second is to provide direct financial support in the form of loans. The third is to grant the railway company land. Local governments mainly subscribe for investment stocks, directly buy railway bonds and sell railway public land. Most of the funds for railway construction are mainly raised by selling railway securities to domestic and foreign investors, that is, 85% of the funds are provided by private investors, while government-funded assistance only accounts for about 15% of the total investment.

Seven. Legislation was first enacted in May 1862, and the US Congress passed the Homestead Act. According to this law, any American citizen who has reached the age of 265,438+0, or a foreign immigrant who meets the naturalization requirements and is willing to become an American citizen, can obtain land of no more than 65,438+00 acres for free, or pay a handling fee of 65,438+060 dollars. Those who have been farming for more than five years or less, but have lived on the homestead for six months and paid a fee of $65,438+$0.25 per acre can obtain land ownership. The implementation of the Homestead Law exempted the pioneers from the economic burden caused by spending a lot of money to buy land. A large amount of capital contributed to the evolution from pioneer agriculture to commodity agriculture and promoted the development of the western region.

Looking at the historical development track of modern capitalist countries, most countries, especially big countries, have experienced a development process from coastal to inland, which is linked with the transformation from commercial capitalism to industrial capitalism. Although the westward movement in the United States has certain particularity, its success and great influence cannot but arouse our great attention and reference.