In the late 1700s and early 1800s, America focused on growth and development. In 1803, America purchased 828,000 square miles of land stretching from Mississippi to the Rockies from France for the bargain price of $15,000,000. This virgin land had not yet been ravaged by the rigorous process of growing cotton, so Southern farmers were excited about the prospect. However, most farmers were also afraid of what prevailed in the West, whether “savages,” dangerous wild animals, or inhospitable terrain. The government believed that American citizens needed to be convinced that traveling west, settling, and stabilizing this new land was a wise thing to do. To convince the population, the government turned to a new medium, photography. The product of this invention stunned and perplexed many spectators who believed that the photos they saw represented the absolute truth. Their ignorance of the selective biases of photographers paved the way for rumors and myths that led many people to venture into dangerous areas, without having the slightest idea of ​​what really awaited them. In the early American West, photography was a tool for manipulating government interests by portraying the West as a land of security and opportunity. Many Americans believed they had a right to the vast land their government had just purchased and even more land to the west. of it. One reason was the incredible sense of superiority Americans felt in their own virtue and superior form of government. Another reason was that the Americans believed that the Native Americans did not value the land they occupied and that they should free it, making it more useful and productive. These reasons were all based on ideology...... middle of article ......and 80% of the non-white population declared themselves illiterate in 1870 (national estimate). Yet photographs were a universal language. Andrew Jackson's vision of Indian expulsion was becoming a reality more quickly than he could have ever imagined. Russell introduced the importance of railroads across the country and reinforced the idea of ​​the expansion of civilization and technological progress. Watkins' photos of Yosemite National Park established it as a national park in 1890 (Yosemite). Sullivan was able to provide a candid view of the early American West that most other photographers of the era did not do, and in doing so provided historical insight for the good of the nation. The U.S. government's use of captivating imagery during the era of westward expansion was an essential part of the growth the country experienced during the 19th century..