Westward Expansion
Students will examine various primary and secondary sources to learn about Americans heading west.
Description
Students will examine various events and people related to the expansion of the United States. Topics range widely from the Purchase of the Louisiana Territory, Lewis & Clark Expedition, Gold Rush, Transcontinental Railroad, and War with Mexico. Students will gain a deeper understanding of the plights of immigrants, Native Americans, and Mexicans as all search for a better life. This unit will begin with analyses of Manifest Destiny and Continentalism and their impact on American values and beliefs. Additional lessons will address the frequent hardships and difficulties settlers endured as they traveled west. A Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) of the Donner Party tragedy will highlight the dangers pioneers faced.
Students will examine various events and people related to the expansion of the United States. Topics range widely from the Purchase of the Louisiana Territory, Lewis & Clark Expedition, Gold Rush, Transcontinental Railroad, and War with Mexico. Students will gain a deeper understanding of the plights of immigrants, Native Americans, and Mexicans as all search for a better life. This unit will begin with analyses of Manifest Destiny and Continentalism and their impact on American values and beliefs. Additional lessons will address the frequent hardships and difficulties settlers endured as they traveled west. A Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) of the Donner Party tragedy will highlight the dangers pioneers faced.
Old West Resources
This link to Eyewitness to History provides a great deal of information on numerous topics regarding the settlement of the Old West. Students can learn about topics ranging from Wagon Trains, Billy the Kid, Wild Bill Hickok, Buffalo Hunts, the Alamo, Transcontinental Railroad, and more.
This link to Eyewitness to History provides a great deal of information on numerous topics regarding the settlement of the Old West. Students can learn about topics ranging from Wagon Trains, Billy the Kid, Wild Bill Hickok, Buffalo Hunts, the Alamo, Transcontinental Railroad, and more.