Students study westward expansion. In this US history lesson, students describe the adventures and hardships faced by the explorers known as Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Students write a report to the President about the...

How did early American pioneers decide what to take with them on their journeys, and what was their traveling experience like? Here you'll find a collection of activities to help you explore Westward Expansion with your young learners.

Students organize acquired information and make inferences as to the kind of habitat and its probable location. They identify and replicate art forms characteristic of the Pacific Northwest coast involving the use of ovoids and "u forms".

Eighth graders examine the time period of the Industrial revolution in American history.  In this American History lesson, 8th graders read the chapter on this time period.  Students create a presentation on this time period to...

Learners investigate the impact of the Transcontinental Railroad. In this Transcontinental Railroad lesson, students research Internet and print sources regarding the effect of the railroad on Chinese immigrants and American...

Seventh graders examine the products of Utah. In this economics lesson, 7th graders investigate the products grown and processed in Utah today and historically. Students explore the impact of the railroad on Utah's economy.

In this American West instructional activity, students complete a 24 questions test about the American West. Answers are included beneath questions on instructional activity.

A brief history of the Oregon Territory, with maps that show the movement from territory to statehood.

Toggle back and forth on this interactive map to see how the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 completely negated the Missouri Compromise. Click on the map to see where slavery was permitted before 1854 and then after. Be sure to click on the...

An interactive map that clearly shows the change in the status of slavery in territories from the Missouri Compromise to the Compromise of 1850. Click on the map to see the status before and after the Compromise of 1850.

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

On this map you can see Alaska and Hawaii in relation to the contiguous United States and read brief text about their purchase/annexation, territorial status, and addition as states.

Click on the sliding bar and watch how the United States territory grew with the Louisiana Purchase, Florida Acquisitions, Texas Annexation, Oregon Country, and Mexican Cession.

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 Oregon Territory between the time of exploration by George Vancouver (1792) and the Oregon Treaty of 1846. The map is color-coded to show the disputed claims of the British and United States, the Russian American line of...

A map of the Oregon Territory between the time of exploration by George Vancouver (1792) and the Oregon Treaty of 1846. The map is color-coded to show the disputed claims of the British and United States, the Russian American line of...

A map of the Oregon Territory showing the boundary on the 49th Parallel established by treaty between Great Britain and the United States in 1846, dividing what was once jointly held territory. The map also shows the boundary with Upper...

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 the western United States between 1836 and 1850 showing the Texas controversy and territorial adjustments at the time. The map is color-coded to show the unorganized territory of the Louisiana Purchase and the boundary line with...

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...

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?"

This is a very simple map showing the Republic of Texas and the territory disputed with Mexico in 1836.

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.