A series of lessons utilizing primary texts, including narratives, photographs, and maps, through which students explore the following question: "What motivated thousands of people to journey west during the 1800s?"

Part of a longer time line describing the history of the American West, this section covers the period 1829 to 1859 with hyperlinks to stories and people of this time period.

A map of the western United States in 1840-1850 showing the Oregon Trail and Santa Fe, the two principal overland routes from Independence, Missouri, to the western territories and the Pacific. The map shows the territory boundaries,...

A map of the present day territory of the United States, showing the European claims to the land before 1763 and the end of the French and Indian Wars. The map shows the claims of the British, French, and Spanish, and shows the...

A map of North America showing the foreign possessions in the area of the present United States during the French and Indian Wars (1755-1763) between the French and English. This map is color-coded to show territorial claims at the time...

A map of the United States at the time of the Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) which allowed settlers to determine whether or not slavery would be allowed in their territories. The map is color-coded to show the Free States (including...

A map of North America in 1840 at the time when the concept of "Manifest Destiny" was being applied to annex the Oregon Territory, Texas, and much of northern Mexico into the United States. The map is color-coded to show the extent of...

A map of the United States showing the effects of the Compromise of 1850. The map is keyed to show the free states and slave states, and notes California admitted to the Union as a free state; the Nebraska Territory as free by the...

This in-depth resource presents a history of the American West from pre-Columbian times until World War I with profiles, documents, and images. It encourages visitors to link these into patterns of historical meaning for themselves....

Interactive and animated maps and timelines of historical events and time periods in American history from pre-European times until post-World War II.

Overview of U.S. westward expansion during the 1800s.

This online lesson plan shows students through primary sources how the borders of the U.S. changed in just a few years. They are asked to analyze maps and use map skills. All maps and worksheets are included as well as additional resources.

This site provides a glimpse into the United States in the year 1846. James Polk was president and the Westward Expansion was in full force. The site has nice historical photographs.

After examining a map showing the expansion of the United States, click to read about each addition to the country and see where that addition is. Play Expansion Concentration to test your skills.

A map of the western United States and northern Mexico showing the territorial disputes settled and boundary established by the Adams-Onis Treaty between the United States and Spain in 1819. The territorial disputes involved the natural...

A map of Mexico in 1845, prior to the ceding of the northern territories to the United States in 1846. The map shows the territories of Oregon, Texas, and Central America under Mexican control, and the frontiers of the Missouri and...

A map showing the route and winter camps of the Lewis and Clark explorations from St. Luis in the Louisiana Territory to Astoria on the Pacific in Oregon Country (1803-1806). The map shows natural boundaries of the British possessions...

A map of the United States and territories in 1821 after the Missouri Compromise, showing the Free States and territories, the Slave States and territories, and the transitional territories at the time. The map is color-coded to show the...

A map from 1872 of the United States used to illustrate the comparative area sizes of the states to other countries in the world. The map shows state and territory boundaries at the time (Dakota, Montana, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming,...

A map of the United States showing the growth of the nation from 1776-1867. The map is color-coded to show the thirteen original states, the territory acquired by conquest during the revolution and the Treaty of 1783, the Louisiana...

A map of the United States and the Louisiana Territory showing boundary disputes and boundary claims between 1763 and 1809. The map shows the natural boundaries and extent of the original Louisiana Territory claimed by the French, the...

A map of the United States in 1830 showing the states and territories, the joint-occupation with Britain in Oregon Country, and the British and Spanish possessions at the time. The map shows the westward expansion of the United States,...

A map of the United States in 1801. The map is color-coded to show the States and territory of the United States west to the Mississippi River, the British territories of Upper and Lower Canada, Rupert's Land, and the Bahamas, the French...

A map from 1904 of the United States showing the territorial acquisitions up to the Gadsden Purchase in northern Mexico in 1853. The map is coded to show the territory of the original United States and the Northwest Territory defined by...