Final answer:
The federal government took several actions to manage westward expansion, such as the Homestead Act and the Pacific Railway Act. These endeavors illustrate why the federal government was better suited to handle such a task, considering the large-scale coordination and the intricacies involving the slavery and statehood politics at the time. Nonetheless, the period was complex, marked by both exploitation and progress.
Step-by-step explanation:
The management of westward expansion included various actions by the federal government that could be argued as better suited than state governments for such a large-scale venture. Actions such as the Homestead Act and the Pacific Railway Act facilitated the movement of settlers and the connection between the coasts through the transcontinental railroad. Initiatives like the construction of forts furthered federal aims and supported migration. The federal government's policies and control over territories also played a crucial role in shaping the politics of slavery and statehood in the growing nation, as shown by the Southwest Ordinance of 1790 and the tensions revealed during the era of Manifest Destiny.
However, this expansion is also marked by exploitation, particularly in the treatment and displacement of Native Americans and the environmental impact. It involved both individual and collective action, with stories of personal success and hardship side by side with large-scale migrations and government-led initiatives. The enduring lessons include the complexities of American expansionism and the need to critically analyze both progress and exploitation in American history. It also opened debates about the balance of power between federal and state governments.