Throughout the 1800s, Americans pushed ever westward in the search of prosperity and the American dream. It was a time of growth and adventure for settlers, and loss for most American Indians. This collection includes 7 Grade-Leveled...

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.

Original pictures of Westward expansion. Great activities and discussion questions for cross-curricular learning.

[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.

Students 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 between...

As the United States expanded westward, many cultural groups came into contact with one another, such as Native American tribes, Chinese, and various Europeans. In this set of exercises, students use primary source documents to explore...

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.

This instructional task asks students to analyze the impact Westward Expansion had on the people and cultures of the American West.

Essay on European-American westward expansion and the conflict new settlement created with Native Americans. Author describes the development of a hierarchical structure in which indigenous peoples were exploited and unprotected.

Like Native Americans, Mexican Americans and Chinese immigrants suffered harsh consequences due to relentless westward expansion by whites in the nineteenth century.

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,...

Overview of U.S. westward expansion during the 1800s.

[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart covers the rise in population in American cities in the late 1800's and westward expansion.

Comprehensive teaching unit that explores the settling of the American West in the late 1800s and the challenges these settlers faced. Contains video and text materials, web interactives, student oriented activities, and a timeline of...

Learn the factors, forces or reasons people moved from one geographic area to another in early America.

A look at the reasons for westward expansion, known as Manifest Destiny. Economic, religious, and cultural reasons pushed Americans from sea to shining sea.

A good description of the actions and fate of the Native Americans who allied with the British to fight against the Americans. Find out that while the Native Americans had treaties with the British, they were not represented at the talks...

A discussion of the art forms preserved by the Native Americans who were resettled by the U.S. government in the Indian Territory.

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.

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...

Beautiful artwork from the more famous artists who depicted the people, places and things of the American West.

A lesson plan from the producers of the 16-episode PBS series "Freedom: A History of US" designed to provide insights into the causes of the conflict between Native Americans and new settlers pushing west. Young scholars will examine...

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.

Outline of the American frontier and pioneer experience during westward expanison in the 1800s.