Answer :
Final answer:
Senator Thomas Hart Benton urged Western expansion to secure territories like Oregon, viewing it as key to American trade, particularly with Asia. His motivations were fueled by economic opportunities and a belief in the civilizing mission of American presence in the West. While access to California's gold was important, his vision encompassed a more expansive narrative of American growth and influence.
Explanation:
Senator Thomas Hart Benton and Western Expansion
Senator Thomas Hart Benton of Missouri was a prominent advocate for Western expansion, particularly focusing on Oregon and the Pacific coast. His motivations were deeply intertwined with the belief in Manifest Destiny, which held that the expansion of the United States across the American continents was both justified and inevitable.
Benton, an ally of President Andrew Jackson, saw the potential for economic opportunities in the region, particularly with regard to trade with Asia. He argued that the United States needed to secure the Oregon territory to establish ports that would serve as gateways for American traders, thereby enhancing the nation’s commercial reach.
Additionally, Benton was part of a coalition that believed in the necessity of American presence in the West for the greater good. He and his contemporaries perceived the settlement of these territories as a civilizing mission, positioning white Americans as the bearers of progress to what they deemed less developed regions.
While access to California's resources, especially following the discovery of gold, was a significant motivation for many during the 1840s, Benton’s overall vision included broader goals of territorial expansion and American influence in the Pacific region. Thus, his urgency for Western expansion was driven by a combination of economic interests and a socio-political ideology.
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