Ben E. 				Journal Entry 1			Westward Expansion  (PD 7)
	Westward Expansion was a time of great prosper for the United States.  Following and during reconstruction, Westward Expansion was a phase in American history when millions of Americans moved west get rich, get free land, seek out adventure, become a cow hand, or to just start a new life.  Fortune seekers started moving west earlier than others, especially starting in 1849, when the California gold rush occurred. This also brought in thousands of immigrants from Asia, also seeking riches.  As fortune seekers continued to move west, the 1862 Homestead Act granted 160 acres of free land to any citizen that paid a small filing fee.  This brought millions of whites and blacks alike to the great plains, to begin their farm.
	During this time period great technological innovations were developed, as well.  The most important invention of the time, the transcontinental railroad, spanned the whole U.S, connecting the West and East coasts.  This development allowed people to travel and move goods with ease.  Other inventions of Westward Expansion mainly include farming innovations, such as the Steel Plow, the Windmill, Barbed Wire, and a farming technique called Dry Farming.  These inventions made it possible to farm the treeless, dry plains of the west.
	Those who did not seek fortune, and did not farm nor work in the railroad industry, were cow hands.  Cow hands, otherwise known as cow boys, went out west to herd wild cattle.  They drove the cattle up to a cow town (a town with a railroad running through it) and sold the cows, sending them away to the slaughter houses and meat packing plants of Chicago to make beef.  As more and more cow hands emerged, the price of cattle dropped, and combined with the terrible winters of the mid 1860s, the business of herding cattle was crushed.
Journal Entry 1,
		As it were, it appears my position as Secretary of State is not as I planned.  My unfortunate inability to dominate the president due to my political experience is quite, well, depressing.  However, in other fields, things are looking better.  As a country, these states, united under our beautiful flag, are progressing.  With the completion of the transcontinental railroad, industries can span the country.  Hopefully, given the circumstances, this will encourage colored folk to take up work in other areas, and escape the discriminatory clutches of the south.  But most importantly for the black man, a chance for success has finally been provided by congress.  I agree with and applaud to the homestead act.  It truly is manifest destiny, isn't it?  The American people, moving as one, colored and white, to conquer the west.  With the help of the new railroads, which are, quite frankly, popping up everywhere, we will soon have populated the whole country, coast to coast, I hope I live to see the day.
									Signed,
										  William H. Seward