Westward I Go Free: Discovering What Sparks and What Hinders the "Go West" Mentality

Abstract

I set out on this project hoping to come to an understanding of the "Go West" mentality. I found myself delving deep into the stories of westward expansion in America, and came out with less of an understanding of how that mentality applied to the lives of nineteenth century Americans and more of an understanding of how that mentality applies to my own life. This work is an amalgamation of historical narrative and personal history. It looks into the social contexts of living in the West today as well as the motives influencing the lives of particular pioneer figures. Both past and present intermingle. Personal and historical collide and become indistinguishable. The conclusions that arise lead me to acknowledge certain undeniable realities affecting my own life and open up for consideration how those realities can be applied to everyone.