Road Bump in the Pioneer Plans

Time for John Calhoun, Secretary of War under James Monroe to enter the picture with his plans to limit westward expansion of the United States.  Past the line of the Louisiana Purchase, no white settlement or any activity except that of government sanctioned fur trappers/traders was allowed.

Reason for Calhoun's plans?
* ecologically and politically it would encourage the American Fur Trade Company competing with the British, believing the Indians would be easier to trade with without white settlers interfering.

* provided a place eastern Indians could relocate to  Since the whites had little use for the land, the government could bargain with the Indians for it.  (how conveniently that was forgotten in the next 50 years!)

*  to satisfy a growing opinion of the East -  wealthy, cultural New England and Mid Atlantic residents - that Indians needed protected from the white settlers and their disgraceful treatment.

*  The lower class was restless and their desire to move west was seen as disturbing and threatening.  The leap land depressed the Eastern real estate prices and kept wages high due to the agricultural and industrial workers heading off for free land - THERE is your REAL reason!

*  Many Americans believed in a "Little America" where migration would be slowed and the country expanded a section at a time in a civilized manner.

Calhoun's plan had a snowball's chance in hell of ever becoming a reality or even controlling the westward expansion even if it did.  Although it did slow it down for a year or so, it was because of the natural boundaries between the woodlands (which we comfortable and experienced), and the vast prairies (which were unknown and inexperienced) that the expansion slowed, not Calhoun's plan.

Next time...Military trading posts...