摘    要

作为美国发展史上非常重要的一段历程，西进运动对于美国在全世界的崛起起到了不可替代的作用。它大规模地扩张了美国的领土，使美国的农业得到了长足的发展，从而满足了东部工业对于原材料和市场的需求，进一步推动了美国经济的腾飞。而在这个过程中，早期的西部拓荒者扮演了非常重要的角色。他们作为西部的第一批移民，以他们的勤劳和持之以恒的精神开发出了大片土地，为西部之后的发展奠定了基础。
另一方面，西进运动也促进了美国民族精神的形成。在西进的过程中，拓荒者们用他们的双手开拓道路，清理土地，改变着西部这片原本原始的世界。同时，他们也受到了西部大自然对他们的改造。两相磨合，产生了独特的西部精神，包括个人主义，实用主义，美国式的自由和平等以及探险精神，这些今天被认为是典型的美国价值观都可以在西进运动中寻求到其相应的源头。所以可以毫不夸张地说，没有西进运动，就没有今天的美国。
而西进过程中西部独特的风景风俗也为美国的文艺创作者们提供了全新的创作题材，促进了美国本土的文学和电影的发展，使他们找到了美国独有的文化。反过来，他们的作品也使得西部的生活和价值观能够更广泛地为美国人民所认识，从而大大促进了西部精神在全美的传播和继承，从而帮助美国找到了其自身在世界上独树一帜的身份定位。
本文有助于研究美国民族文化的起源与发展，是对美国文化及美国意识形态的研究资料的必要补充，在参考之前学者在相关问题上的研究成果的同时，引用文学作品，电影等材料作为补充，论述西进运动对于塑造当今美国的独特文化所作出的贡献。

关键词：西进运动，美国民族精神，西部文学，西部电影

ABSTRACT

As one of the most important period in American history of development, Westward Movement made an outstanding and unique contribution to America’ s raising as a dominant power in the world. It largely expanded American territory and helped greatly in improving its agriculture so as to meet the demand of the Industrial East. Hence Westward Movement actually boosted American economy's development. And in this process, the contribution of the early pioneers should not be ignored. It was these diligent, hardworking pioneers who first came to the new world and made great efforts in clearing the wild land and laid the foundation for its further growth.
In addition, Westward Movement also helped to form American ethnic consciousness. During the process of moving forward, pioneers changed that vast nature with their own efforts and were also changed by nature in turn. In order to survive and lead a good life there, they established their unique concept of value, which was the original form of American ethnic consciousness, including individualism, pragmatism, American-style freedom and equality and adventurous character. Furthermore, the beautiful scenery in the West and its distinctive local customs that people acquired during Westward Movement provided American writers and movie makers a brand-new topic for art creation and helped them discovering the unique American-style culture in art field. On the contrary, their works, preserving the essence of West spirits and culture, helped more American people to acquire and understand the distinctive West custom which helped they to find their own identification as an American in the world.
So this paper could serve as an analysis on the start and development of American ethnic culture and a necessary supplement of the researches on American ideology. On the foundation of prior scholars, the thesis will also consult to literature works and movies as references to establish its demonstration.

Key words: Westward Movement, American ethnic consciousness, West Literature, West movie