Abstract

From the Late 18th century to the late 19th century, American Westward Movement is a large-scale domestic colonial frontier movement, it is also the process of urbanization, industrialization and the United States national integration. With the vast new world of the West, Americans took risks to go West with optimism and confidence in the faith. Westward Movement effectively promoted the development of important sectors of U.S, such as national agriculture, industry, manufacturing, transport and so on.
Besides, Westward Movement shaped not only the particular culture of Americans, but their character and values. The course of the Westward Movement inspired the Americans’ optimistic and enterprising character, strengthened the American individualism and gave birth to the philosophy of pragmatism. The formation of these outstanding character of the American nation still has great significance to the practice of people today in the world.
In this thesis, the author offers an introduction of the spirits of Westward Movement by analyzing its reflections in the film, hoping to put forward some humble suggestions to the development of China's Western Campaign. Chapter 1 introduces the movie How the West Was Won; in chapter 2, the author gives a brief introduction to the Westward Movement; chapter 3 analyzes the influence on the formation of the American National character; finally, chapter 4 puts out the enlightenment of the American Westward Movement.
   
Key words: Westward Movement; national character; practical enlightenment
 
摘  要

18世纪末至19世纪末的美国西进运动是美国国内的一次大规模殖民拓荒运动，也是美国城市化、工业化和美利坚民族大融合的过程。西部广阔的新天地,让美国人敢于冒险和乐观进取,对前途充满信心。西进运动有力地促进了美国农业、工业、制造业、运输业等国家重要行业的发展。
此外，西进运动不仅塑造了美国人的独特文化,也塑造了他们的民族性格和价值观。
西进的过程激发了美国人乐观进取的性格,强化了美国的个人主义思想,催生了实用主义哲学观。美利坚民族独特性格的形成过程，对今天世界人民的实践活动仍具有重大的指导意义。
在本篇论文中，作者通过分析影片中所体现的西进精神，试图探索出为中国西部发展的启示。第一章简单介绍了电影《西部开拓史》， 在第二章中，作者则讲解了西进运动; 第三章分析美利坚民族性格的形成;最后，第四章提出了美国西进运动的现实启示。

关键字：西进运动; 民族性格; 现实启示