Question

Which feature of life in the early 19th century caused many Americans to feel fearful and anxious about the future?

aggressive westward expansion

a shift toward an agricultural economy

the French and Indian War and Spanish-American War

threats of invasion by surrounding countries

Answer 1

In the early 19th century, many Americans felt fearful and anxious about the future primarily due to **aggressive westward expansion**. This period was marked by significant territorial growth, driven by the ideology of Manifest Destiny, which promoted the belief that Americans were destined to expand across the continent. This expansion led to conflicts with Native American tribes and geopolitical tensions with other countries, which created an atmosphere of uncertainty and anxiety regarding the consequences of such rapid growth and the treatment of Indigenous peoples.