If you've always wondered about the history of the Westward Expansion, you'll find that there are many fascinating facts about the pioneers and their experiences in the American Old West. While railroads and sea transport are no longer available in this region, pioneers and immigrants used the land to establish overland trails to move their goods. During the 1830s and 1840s, this new way of life was largely untapped, but it didn't take long to create a network of overland trails. The era of westward expansion was marked by many major events. First of all, the Louisiana Purchase led to the forced removal of Native Americans. In 1803, the United States spent $1.5 million to acquire these lands. In addition, the Homestead Act provided free land to many Americans who wanted to move westward. A lot of this movement was fueled by the Gold Rush in California. During this time, the population of the United States jumped from five million to 76 million, and the Transcontinental Railroad helped people and supplies move west. The Louisiana Purchase in 1853 added 30,000 square miles of land from Mexico. In 1860, the Pony Express began providing direct communication between the east and west. In 1864, President Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark to explore and record the western frontier. The first transcontinental railroad connected eastern and western regions of the country, making the westward expansion possible. And in 1869, the railroads began connecting the eastern and western parts of the United States.