List the Stages of westward expansion in US?

The stages of westward expansion in the United States include the exploration phase, marked by expeditions such as Lewis and Clark's in the early 1800s. This was followed by the era of settlement, which involved the establishment of homesteads and the implementation of policies like the Homestead Act of 1862. The Gold Rush in the mid-1800s further accelerated migration westward. Finally, the period of consolidation and conflict with Indigenous peoples led to the establishment of states and the completion of the transcontinental railroad by the late 19th century.