Building a Nation The United States of America became stronger, as a country, after becoming independent from the British Empire following several different inventions and events. Some of these include economic improvements, due to the First Industrial Revolution, the War of 1812, which brought a sense of nationalism to the United States, and a westward expansion, inspired by nationalism and caused by the Louisiana Purchase. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The transition from an agricultural to an industrial economy occurred from the 1790s to the 1830s. The first industrial revolution started after the introduction of new technologies to the United States, such as the first industrial factory. The economic takeoff of the Industrial Revolution that would transform American life was also the result of new organizational strategies aimed at increasing productivity, such as the remote work system and the introduction of the factory system. Perhaps the most famous contribution to economic takeoff, however, came as a result of the construction of the Erie Canal to transport goods manufactured in factories. For example, southern cotton was transported north where it could be processed in factories. This was all due to the War of 1812, which boosted America's manufacturing capacity. The War of 1812 helped lay the foundation for economic expansion in the years following the war. Americans understood the need to defend national honor during and after the war. This brought a sense of nationalism to the American people, even though there was no real victory. The Americans notably celebrated the defeat of the British army at New Orleans. There was a strong growing sense of national pride after surviving the war and gaining the independence gained in the American Revolution. Westward expansion gave the American people in the West beliefs of individualism, political democracy, and economic mobility. After the War of 1812, the western frontier presented an opportunity to start again. Westward expansion began when the United States purchased 828,000 square miles of land from France in 1803. The land Jefferson purchased west of the Mississippi River was completely unknown to Americans and needed to be examined or explored before they can be colonized. Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on an expedition that lasted from May 1804 to September 1806. They found no waterways from the Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean, one of their main objectives, but documented more than 100 new animals and 178 plants and created 140 maps of the previously unknown region.Keep in mind: this is just a sample.Get a custom paper now from our expert writers.Get a custom essayThe United States of America became stronger as a country, after their independence, because of nationalism. The pace of progress and prosperity that independence and economic improvement have made the United States a stronger country, with more pride, and, with westward expansion, more determination..