Other
New York Public Library: A Hudson River Portfolio
Learn about the Hudson River and the role it played in the westward and northward expansion of America (to the Great Lakes regions and to Canada) in the nineteenth century. Useful for understanding the importance of rivers as means of...
OpenStax
Open Stax: u.s. History: Independence for Texas
From a chapter on America's expansion westward in a history textbook. This section looks at Texas's struggle for independence from Mexico, and the relations between Mexico and Texas prior to and after independence. Includes review...
Library of Congress
Loc: Immigration: Destroying the Native American Cultures
Detailed and extensive account of the plight of Native Americans during the westward growth of America. Includes maps, audio recordings, authentic letters, speeches,a great timeline, and much more.
Library of Congress
Loc: American Treasures: A More Perfect Union: Gallery B
This is a large site from American Treasures covering primary source documents from the early 1800s through the Civil War and on to Western Expansion.
Nebraska Studies
Nebraska Studies: Pioneer Children: Games, Toys, and Recreation
Learn about the lives of pioneer children whose families moved to Nebraska during the period of Western Expansion. Topics include toys, games and other activities for enjoyment.
Brigham Young University
Library of Congress: Maps: Their Use by Overlanders
Did the settlers know where they were going when they headed west? This site gives an explanation of maps that were used during the westward movement.
Smithsonian Institution
National Portrait Gallery: 1846: Portrait of a Nation
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.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Primary Source Set: Manifest Destiny
This collection uses primary sources to explore the idea of Manifest Destiny and its influence.
Other
Dmwv: The u.s. Mexican War: 1846 1848
Dedicated to the memory of U.S. veterans who fought in the U.S.-Mexican War, this website provides documents, images, maps, and FAQs.
Other
Geni: American Abolitionist Movement
Looks at the history of the abolitionist movement in the United States, the key people involved, and important events.
The Newberry Library
Newberry: Migration and Settlement: Map 5: Fremont Survey: Missouri Oregon, 1843
Lesson plan on migration and settlement in the U.S. ca. 1843, uses primary source map of the Missouri-Oregon survey done by Fremont and supplemental resources.
Other
Sierra College Press: California Trails: Beckwourth Trail
A brief history of the development of mountain man James Beckwourth's trail during the westward expansion. Beckwourth Trail begins near Reno, Nevada and heads through Marysville towards Lake Oroville. The path was effective for traveling...
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Cause and Effect With Us History
[Free Registration/Login Required] What is cause and effect? This flipchart explains cause and effect with simple examples leading to more in-depth examples in US history from the Industrial Revolution, immigration, and Westward expansion.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Moving Toward Equality Under Law
As new free and slave states were admitted to the Union prior to the Civil War, political divisions kept growing, despite attempts to balance the numbers of each. The South pushed for slavery to expand westward, while anti-slavery...
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Extension of Slavery
Outline on the extension of slavery and U.S. westward expansion, touching on the development of the cotton gin, Northwest Ordinance and Missouri Compromise.
Other
Mission Us: Mission 3: A Cheyenne Odyssey
[Free Registration/Login Required] Online game where players become Little Fox, a Northern Cheyenne boy whose life is changed by the encroachment of white settlers, railroads, and U.S. military expeditions. As buffalo diminish and the...
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Henry David Thoreau: Civil Disobedience: 1848
Thoreau's essay that calls for citizens to break unjust laws, particularly those promoting the continuation and expansion of slavery.
Digital History
Digital History: Conquering Space
A good review of how the rise of nationalism led to western expansion, support for federal funds to build infrastructure, and the protection of new American industry.
Tom Richey
Tom Richey: Conquest of the American West
This PowerPoint presentation will thoroughly illustrate the significant role the transcontinental railroad played in the economic and cultural development of the nation as it expanded west. What did the political leadership of the nation...
iCivics
I Civics: Manifest Destiny
Students will learn about the ideology of Manifest Destiny and how it affected different populations and demographics of the U.S. during its expansion.
University of Groningen
American History: Essays: Western Migration Towards the Interior
This resource provides an essay discussing the migration of American colonists into the Ohio River Valley and the impact on the Native Americans living in the area.
OpenStax
Open Stax: Free Soil or Slave? The Dilemma of the West
By reading this section of a chapter on "Westward Expansion," students will be able to describe the terms of the Wilmot Proviso and the Compromise of 1850, discuss why the Free-Soil Party objected to the westward expansion of slavery and...
OpenStax
Open Stax: Lewis and Clark
By reading this section of a chapter on "Westward Expansion," students will be able to explain the significance of the Louisiana Purchase and describe the terms of the Adams-Onis Treaty and the role played by the filibuster in American...
OpenStax
Open Stax: The Loss of American Indian Life and Culture
Read this section from a chapter on "Westward Expansion" to learn about the methods that the U.S. government used to address the "Indian threat" during the settlement of the West and explain the process of "Americanization" as it applied...