University of Maryland
Howard County History Labs: Westward Expansion
Lesson plan assesses historical thinking skills by providing two primary sources on Thomas Jefferson's views on the constitutionality of the Louisiana Purchase.
US National Archives
Nara: Charters of Freedom: Westward Expansion: Louisiana Purchase
Primary source material and informational text on the Louisiana Purchase.
Ducksters
Ducksters: History for Kids: Glossary and Terms of the Westward Expansion
Kids learn about the Glossary and Terms of the Westward Expansion. Definitions for Old West terms like frontier, pioneer, and homestead are found on this site.
Ducksters
Ducksters: History: Timeline of Westward Expansion for Kids
Kids learn the timeline of Westward Expansion of the United States on this site. Follow the timeline of how pioneers and settlers moved west of the Mississippi all the way to California.
Ducksters
Ducksters: Crossword Puzzle Print Out for Kids: Westward Expansion
Print out a crossword puzzle game about the Westward Expansion of the US. Learn about history and have fun at the same time.
Ducksters
Ducksters: Crossword Puzzle Game for Kids: Westward Expansion
An interactive and fun crossword puzzle game about the Westward Expansion of the US.
Henry J. Sage
Sage American History: Expansion and War: The United States 1840 1860
Article on the era of westward expansion and the resulting Mexican American War. The author demonstrates how Manifest Destiny and frontier settlement led to the annexation of Texas and ultimately war with Mexico over the territory.
Other
Iowa Culture: American Indians and Westward Expansion
Learn the factors, forces or reasons people moved from one geographic area to another in early America.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Us History: 1865 1898: Westward Expansion: Economic Development
In the late nineteenth century, the West developed into a modern agricultural machine- at the expense of farmers.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Importance of the West
Westward migration, west of the Appalachians, resulted in a rapid population growth. Read about where the population exploded, and why the inland rivers were so important to the growth.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Westward Expansion, 1790 1850
This interactive map explores the territorial and population changes in the United States between 1790 and 1850. It also covers the beginning of the transportation revolution and the Native American land cessions and forced removals.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Manifest Destiny
A look at the reasons for westward expansion, known as Manifest Destiny. Economic, religious, and cultural reasons pushed Americans from sea to shining sea.
The History Cat
The History Cat: Westward Expansion
Here you can learn about the Oregon Trail, Donner Party, the California Gold Rush, and life as a pioneer through text, images, video, and quotes.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Westward Expansion, 1860 1890
In this interactive map, explore several ways in which the United States experienced substantial growth between the years 1860-1890.
Ohio State University
Osu History Teaching Institute: Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion
This lesson looks at ways that the ideology of Manifest Destiny expressed both national political objectives and the goals of ordinary men and women who settled the west.
History Teacher
Historyteacher.net: Westward Expansion & Manifest Destiny: Quiz (1)
This 10-question multiple choice quiz is immediately scored and tests your knowledge of westward expansion in the 1800s.
History Teacher
Historyteacher.net: Westward Expansion & Manifest Destiny: Quiz (5)
Choose the correct word from the drop down menu for each of the twelve questions to evaluate your knowledge of people and events relating to westward expansion in the mid 1800s.
History Teacher
Historyteacher.net: Post Civil War Westward Expansion: Quiz (1)
10-question multiple choice quiz is self scored and tests your comprehension of westward expansion in America in the late 19th century.
History Teacher
Historyteacher.net: Post Civil War Westward Expansion: Quiz (2)
10-question multiple choice quiz is immediately scored and assesses your knowledge of westward expansion in the late 19th century.
Library of Congress
Loc: Global Gateway: Meeting of Frontiers
From cossacks to cowboys, this Library of Congress special online collection looks at American westward exploration and expansion, and Russia's eastward reach into and conquest of Siberia. Includes historical information and timelines,...
Siteseen
Siteseen: American Historama: Westward Expansion
A comprehensive overview of the expansion across the North American continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific in the west from 1841-1850. Provides a summary, list of interesting facts and a timeline.
History Teacher
Historyteacher.net: Westward Expansion & Manifest Destiny: Quiz (2)
Ten multiple choice question quiz is immediately scored and covers territorial expansion and the Manifest Destiny.
Social Studies Help Center
The Social Studies Help Center: How and Why Did America Expand Westward?
Notes and maps that depict how and why America expanded westward?
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of American History: Treasures of Am. History: Western Expansion
Shown are images and descriptions of artifacts that express the challenges that the migrants, Mexicans, and Indians shared in their quest for westward expansion in the United States during the 1800s.