Westward Expansion

Westward Expansion

 

Purpose: - Images of the west are a part of our identity as Americans -American expansion into the west has led to American expansion overseas

Objective: - I can describe what the “American west” means

Context

• Land between the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean is one of the most extraordinary landscapes on earth

• In the 1800’s, this land was both attractive and daunting to American settlers

• Motivated by Manifest Destiny and profit, Americans began expanding west

• By 1850, people viewed the West as a land of opportunity

Open Ended

Reflection Point:

Think about the beautiful pictures you just saw in the previous slide. If you lived in the 1800’s, would you want to move out to the West? 

Explain your answer using at least 1 detail from today’s notes.

Context

• Many different types of people moved West, including: 

• Ranchers and “cowboys” who raised cattle and other livestock

• “Homesteaders” who were given free land by the government in exchange for a 5-year contract to build a home and start a farm

Context

• Pioneer women who helped establish homes, farms, and schools

Multiple Select

What specific groups of people were moving West during the 1800's? (select all that apply)

• Puritans

• Ranchers or "Cowboys"

• Pioneer Women

• Homesteaders

Context

Western land…

• Included wide-open spaces for farming and ranching

• Was full of resources such as gold, silver, timber, and more

• Provided the opportunity for people to start new towns and businesses

• Allowed people to spread religion

Multiple Choice

Was the west full of many resources?

• Yes

• No

Fill in the Blanks

The west was full of resources such as

, silver, timber, and more.

Open Ended

The west provided many people the opportunity to do what?

Context

• People in search of gold, known as the “Forty-Niners” for moving to California during the Gold Rush in 1849

• Explorers who drew maps, established relationships with Native Americans, and trapped animals for fur

• Chinese-Americans and other immigrants in search of a new life

Fill in the Blanks

People in search of gold, known as the “Forty-Niners” for moving to California during the Gold Rush in

.

Context

• All of them represented courage, hard work, and “rugged individualism” - the idea that Americans can get through any challenge by relying on themselves

• Their experiences created an image of the “Wild West” an exciting place with both rewards and risks

Open Ended

Exit Ticket

In 2-3 complete sentences describe what "rugged individualism" means.