Final answer:
The westward spread of the American frontier is an example of relocation diffusion, facilitated by 'Manifest Destiny'. Factors such as the California Gold Rush, the Homestead Act, and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad encouraged settlers to migrate West, spreading American cultural traits, thereby illustrating relocation diffusion. However, this spread was not uniform and carries a complex legacy due to its impact on Indigenous tribes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The westward spread of the American frontier is indeed an example of relocation diffusion. This process is defined as the spread of a cultural trait by people who migrate and carry their cultural traits with them. The westward expansion of the United States in the 19th-century exemplifies this process. This movement was designated by the term 'Manifest Destiny' which conveyed the belief that Americans had a divine mission to spread their culture and civilization across the continent.
Historically, the spread of American settlers was facilitated by various factors like the California Gold Rush of 1849, the Homestead Act offering free land, and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869. These factors led to the relocation of American settlers from original locations to the West, spreading predominantly American values to these new areas. Manifest Destiny and westward migration thereby impacted the spatial distribution of cultural traits in the US, which in effect, led to the relocation diffusion.
However, it's important to note that this was not a truly uniform spread. Certain parts of the West, like the Great Plains, remained sparsely populated while others saw heavy influxes of settlers. Furthermore, this process carries a complex and troubling legacy given its consequential impact on the Indigenous tribes originally inhabiting these lands.
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