Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Primary Source Set: Westward Expansion Teacher's Guide [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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, young scholars use primary source documents to...
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Westward Expansion and Reform

For Students 3rd - 8th
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.
Lesson Plan
Louisiana Department of Education

Louisiana Doe: Louisiana Believes: Social Studies: Grade 4: Westward Expansion

For Teachers 4th
This instructional task asks students to analyze the impact Westward Expansion had on the people and cultures of the American West.
Interactive
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Westward Expansion, 1790 1850

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
eBook
University of Groningen

American History: Essays: The Seeds of Empirebuilding

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1865 1898: Chinese Immigrants and Mexican Americans

For Students 9th - 10th
Like Native Americans, Mexican Americans and Chinese immigrants suffered harsh consequences due to relentless westward expansion by whites in the nineteenth century.
Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Immigration: Destroying the Native American Cultures

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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.
Activity
University of Groningen

American History: Essays: Western Migration Towards the Interior

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: America's History in the Making: Contested Territories

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Global Gateway: Meeting of Frontiers

For Students 9th - 10th
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,...
eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: The Impact of Expansion on Chinese Immigrants and Hispanic Citizens

For Students 11th - 12th
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...
Primary
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian: National Museum of the American Indian: Battle of Little Bighorn

For Students 9th - 10th
The Battle of Little Bighorn made an immense impression on American society and culture. Americans became obsessed with this battle and created artworks, shows, postcards, and dime novels. View primary sources from this era to understand...
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Westward

For Students 9th - 10th
Overview of U.S. westward expansion during the 1800s.
Handout
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Ap Us History: 1865 1898: Chinese Immigrants and Mexican Americans

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses the conflict with Mexican American and Chinese groups as white settlers pushed westward in the nineteenth century. Explains what brought so many Chinese immigrants to America and the roadblocks and discrimination that they had...
Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Urban Growth and Westward Expansion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart covers the rise in population in American cities in the late 1800's and westward expansion.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Immigration: Destroying the Native American Cultures

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides an account of the status of Native American cultures during the settlement of America. There are thoughts from various presidents through the ages. Many heart-breaking incidents in regard to Native American...
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: America's History in the Making: Taming the American West

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: Stories of the Westward Expansion: Exodus to Freedom

For Students 9th - 10th
Contains an article written on the African American exodus to Kansas to farm in the late 19th century.
eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: The Loss of American Indian Life and Culture

For Students 11th - 12th
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...
Article
Other

Iowa Culture: American Indians and Westward Expansion

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn the factors, forces or reasons people moved from one geographic area to another in early America.
Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: American Historama: Manifest Destiny

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides interesting facts and important information about the idea of Manifest Destiny and details of Westward Expansion in the United States over a fifty-year time span in the 1800s.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Revolutionary Limits: Native Americans

For Students 5th - 8th
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...
Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Docsteach: The Settlement of the American West

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners will analyze primary sources with an eye for cause-and-effect relationships.They will identify the roles of government policy and technological improvements in the settlement of the West, and explain their impact on Native...
Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: American Historama: Westward Expansion

For Students 9th - 10th
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.