Son of the South
Son of the South: Westward Expansion
Discusses the major events and acquisitions in the westward expansion of the United States. Includes Louisiana Purchase, Florida Purchase, Oregon Territory, the Republic of Texas, Gadsden Purchase, etc.
Library of Congress
Loc: Primary Source Set: Westward Expansion Teacher's Guide [Pdf]
As the United States expanded westward, many cultural groups came into contact with one another, such as Native American tribes, Chinese, and various Europeans. For this set of exercises, students use primary source documents to explore...
Library of Congress
Loc: National Expansion and Reform 1815 1880
Follow the territorial and westward expansion of the newly formed United States. Learn about the thriving slave trade of that era and the spread of reform efforts across the country.
Louisiana Department of Education
Louisiana Doe: Louisiana Believes: Social Studies: Grade 4: Westward Expansion
This instructional task asks students to analyze the impact Westward Expansion had on the people and cultures of the American West.
US National Archives
Docsteach: The Impact of Westward Expansion on Native American Groups
In this activity, students will examine the impact of westward expansion and settlement on Native American groups following the Civil War. Students will explore a variety of documents to get a sense of the issues faced by Native...
Other
Digital Docs in a Box: Westward Expansion at Its Impact on Native Americans
With the documents and images contained in this Doc Box, students can inquire, investigate and create documentaries exploring expansion and the impact on Native Americans. With the detailed documents describing the general view of Native...
US National Archives
Docsteach: Reasons for Westward Expansion
Young scholars will examine a variety of documents that reference reasons why Americans living in the East migrated west of the Mississippi immediately before, during, and right after the Civil War. Documents cover the mining industry,...
Read Works
Read Works: Westward Expansion the Erie Canal
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the building of the Erie Canal. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: Westward Expansion the West, an American Symbol
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the recognition of American Authors in the 19th century. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: Westward Expansion the California Gold Rush
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the discovery of gold along the West Coast. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: Westward Expansion the Pony Express
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the Pony Express. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: Westward Expansion the Story of the Alamo
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the battle at the Alamo. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Library of Congress
Loc: Westward Expansion: Links to the Past
Young scholars use documents from California As I Saw It: First Person Narratives, 1849-1900, in American Memory to create a script depicting the motivations, expectations, fears, and realizations of immigrants who settled California...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Settling the West: Westward Expansion
During this lesson plan, students will have the opportunity to experience the westward expansion through literature and the Internet. By creating a brochure and a slideshow presentation, students will become aware of the difficulties...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: America's History in the Making: Contested Territories
This site highlights the westward expansion of settlers in North America and the effects this expansion had on Native Americans between the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.
Library of Congress
Loc: Thomas Jefferson: The West
This resource explains Jefferson's interest in westward expansion while showing and describing many original documents.
OpenStax
Open Stax: Homesteading: Dreams and Realities
After reading this section from a chapter on "Westward Expansion", students will be able to identify the challenges that farmers faced as they settled west of the Mississippi River and describe the unique experiences of women who...
New York Public Library
Western Migration: The Land Promised Lesson Plan: African American Homesteaders
Part of an online exhibit on the westward migration of African-Americans, this lesson plan looks at those with agricultural backgrounds who moved west following the Civil War and availed themselves of the opportunity to homestead....
OpenStax
Open Stax: The Impact of Expansion on Chinese Immigrants and Hispanic Citizens
As white populations moved westward in the 19th century, Chinese immigrants and Hispanic Americans faced racism and discrimination and were unable to compete on an equal basis for land. Eventually, both groups settled into urban areas...
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Westward Expansion and Reform
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.
Scholastic
Scholastic History Mystery: Westward Migration: The Santa Fe Trail
Students try to guess the mystery subject Carlotta Facts, the History Mystery Museum's professor, is studying. They read the clues, do some online and offline research, and then attempt to identify the game's mystery place, The Santa Fe...
Intel Corporation
Intel: Music of the Western Expansion
What was life like for a western pioneer? Students take a journey through westward expansion using music to understand the experience of the pioneers. As they listen to lyrics and analyze the different types of music that was being sung...
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Westward
Overview of U.S. westward expansion during the 1800s.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Urban Growth and Westward Expansion
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart covers the rise in population in American cities in the late 1800's and westward expansion.