Abstract

The Westward Movement of America is a large-scale territorial expansion. It is characterized by its vast coverage of territory, long duration, and coexistence of danger, competition, freedom and democracy. This thesis first explores the historical role of Westward Movement in enhancing the American individualism and fostering the Americans’ spirit of adventure and innovation, and then discusses the cultivation and development of the Americans’ consciousness of freedom and democracy and the mobility of them. As the study has demonstrated, this world’s unique mass migration has not only expanded the territory of the U.S. and promoted its comprehensive social economic, cultural and political progress, but also exerted a profound impact on the formation of the Americans’ national character.

Key words: Westward Movement, individualism, freedom, democracy,      adventurousness, innovativeness, mobility

摘要

西进运动是美国历史上一次大规模的殖民拓荒运动，具有涉及地域广，耗时长，危险和竞争、自由和民主共存的特点。本文从西进运动对美国个人主义思想的增强、对美国人勇敢冒险和开拓创新的性格的铸就、对美国人自由和民主意识的提升以及对美国人的流动性的促进等方面探讨了它对美国民族性格的影响。研究结果表明，这场世界上绝无仅有的大规模迁移活动不仅扩大了美国的疆域，推动了美国的政治、经济和社会的发展，还对美利坚民族性格的塑造产生了深远的影响。

关键词： 西进运动；个人主义；民主、自由和平等；冒险和开拓创新；流动性
 
1. Introduction
The America is known as a big melting pot because of its various races, ethnic groups and diversified cultures. However, the American society has formed its unique character as well as value system in a very short period of time and the formation and development of the national character are closely related with the exploration of the west region and the American Westward Movement. The Westward Expansion has shaped the adventurous, innovative, optimistic and aggressive features of the Americans, and further developed the American individualism.