Final answer:
The settlement of the Sun Belt is not an example of how the West affected American history. Instead, the correct examples are new wealth and opportunity, upward social mobility, and a more open elite system. The West represented a land of potential, contributing to America's economic growth while also bringing social and political change.
Step-by-step explanation:
All of the following are examples of how the West affected American history except settlement of the Sun Belt. The settlement of the Sun Belt is a separate historical trend that refers to the population shift towards the southern and southwestern states, which accelerated after World War II due to factors like a warmer climate, lower taxes, and industrial growth. However, the West did indeed affect American history by creating new wealth and opportunity, enabling upward social mobility, and contributing to a more open elite system.
The West represented the idea of the American frontier and was a land of potential for many Americans. As settlers moved westward in search of land and prosperity, they contributed to the economic growth of the nation by providing raw materials for factories. This westward expansion also brought social changes, including the movement toward universal white male suffrage, and at times, it presented negative impacts, such as increased demands on slave labor and the dispossession of Native American land.
Additionally, the West offered new opportunities for women and African Americans. Women began experiencing more equality, partially credited to the more egalitarian lifestyles dictated by frontier life. Nevertheless, there were also significant limitations as these historic movements often perpetuated class struggles and racial discrimination.