Final answer:
Miners were impacted by the westward expansion through the initial promise of wealth, extremely dangerous working conditions, and the transition to wage labor as big businesses took over mining operations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The westward expansion significantly impacted miners in both positive and negative ways. Here are three "I" statements that reflect these impacts:
- I felt optimistic and driven by the possibility of striking it rich during the early days of mining booms like the one in Virginia City, which provided opportunities for wealth and social mobility.
- I experienced extreme working conditions, facing dangers such as shaft fires, dynamite explosions, and cave-ins, leading to widespread death and injuries among miners.
- I was disenfranchised from the individual prospecting opportunities due to the transition from small-scale operations to large mining companies requiring substantial investments, which ushered in wage labor and stripped me of the chance to independently strike it rich.
The desire of the U.S. government to impose law and order in the West was triggered by miners' and other settlers' needs for stability and security, influencing the admission of new states into the Union. The initially abundant resources attracted many, but as resources depleted, what followed was a shift to larger scale operations dominated by big businesses with the capital to drill deeper and manage large plots of land for ranching.