Final answer:
The Westward Expansion had both positive outcomes such as technological progress and negative consequences like cultural suppression. It fulfilled the idea of Manifest Destiny for some, while for others, particularly Native Americans and during the Mexican-American War, it involved significant hardship and suffering.
Step-by-step explanation:
Whether the Westward Expansion was worth it is a complex question with perspectives that hi nge on whose view you consider. For many, it represented the fulfillment of Manifest Destiny, a belief that Americans were destined to spread across the continent. This led to technological advancements like the transcontinental railroad, and it facilitated the migration of people seeking new opportunities, such as during the California Gold Rush. However, this expansion came at a high cost, particularly for Native Americans who faced displacement and violence, and during the Mexican-American War that resulted in considerable loss of life and territorial changes.
From an individualistic standpoint, many settlers found prosperity or at least a fresh start, but collectively, the expansion often meant exploitation and destruction of other cultures. The enduring lessons of the West involve understanding the consequences of aggressive expansion policies and the complex legacies of such monumental periods in history. The romanticized narrative of brave pioneers and frontier life sometimes obscures the deeply ingrained issues of conquest and cultural suppression.