Final answer:
Westward expansion in the US during the 19th century provided new opportunities for women and African Americans, but it also imposed limitations on their progress.
Step-by-step explanation:
Westward expansion in the United States during the 19th century provided new opportunities for women and African Americans, but it also imposed limitations on their progress.
Opportunities for women and African Americans emerged as they moved westward. Some White women began working outside their homes for the first time, while African American men found employment opportunities that were previously reserved for White men. African American women also had the chance to seek employment beyond domestic service jobs that were their primary opportunity. These new options and freedoms were not easily erased after the expansion ended.
However, westward expansion also limited opportunities for women and African Americans in certain ways. For example, as more men and women took up positions in workshops and factories, they found themselves working for wages for most of their lives, limiting their upward mobility. Additionally, settlement in less populated regions caused problems between the settlers and Native Americans, as the settlers' rights to the land were prioritized over those of the indigenous people.