Curated OER
Etc: Native American Delimitations, 1763 1770
A map of the American colonies and territories west to the Mississippi River between the end of the French and Indian War of 1763 and the beginnings of westward expansion of the trans-Appalachian colony proposed in the Vandalia Project...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Us History: 1865 1898: The Homestead Act and the Exodusters
The Homestead Act of 1862 gave free land to Americans willing to improve it, regardless of race, sex, or nation of origin.
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.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Harcourt: Biographies: Meriwether Lewis 1774 1809
A biography of Meriwether Lewis and information about his exploration of the Louisiana Territory that led to the development of the American West. Includes several maps.
PBS
Pbs: Events in the West: 1800 1820
A comprehensive site on the development and history of the American West. In timeline fashion, this page details the events leading up to the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It continues with information about...
The History Cat
The History Cat: The California Gold Rush
Describes the events that led to the California Gold Rush, the lives of the miners, the discrimination faced by Chinese immigrant miners and African Americans, the women who mostly stayed behind when their husbands went west as well as...
Digital Public Library of America
Dpla: The Homestead Acts
The sources in this primary set document the Homestead Acts and the experiences of American homesteaders during the late 1800s. Includes teaching guide.
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...
PBS
Pbs: Indian Territory
This site from PBS provides a short description and map of "the Indian Territory set aside by the Indian Removal Act of 1830 and the areas designated for each tribe."
PBS
Pbs: Archives of the West: Selections From "With the Nez Perces"
Contains selections from "With the Nez Perces: Alice Fletcher in the Field, 1889-92" by E. Jane Gay, which provided an anthropological look at the Nez Perce Indians and their bewilderment at the Dawes Act.
Kansas Historical Society
Beyond Lewis & Clark: The Army Explores the West
This website looks at military explorers from Lewis and Clark (1804) to George Custer (1874).
![U.s. Mint: We're Going on a Bison Hunt [Pdf] Lesson Plan](https://content.lessonplanet.com/knovation/original/249025-9f5e44d8a919bd8ec2d9ad8c543a3d75.jpg?1661243093 "U.s. Mint: We're Going on a Bison Hunt [Pdf] Lesson Plan")
US Mint
U.s. Mint: We're Going on a Bison Hunt [Pdf]
For this four-part lesson, examine the significance of the Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and Clark's Expedition. Then take the students on a simulated bison hunt to understand the importance of the bison as a food and materials source in...
Harry S. Truman Library and Museum
The Trumpet Club: The Birchbark House
Come and check out this informative site featuring the book "Birchbark House," by Louise Erdrich. This site provides a plot summary, discussion of settings and characterizations, and a class project idea.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Us History: 1865 1898: Indian Wars/ Battle of the Little Big Horn
In the late nineteenth century, the US Army clashed with Native Americans, and General Custer took his last stand.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Us History: 1865 1898: The Dawes Act
The 1887 law intended to assimilate Native Americans led to the loss of millions of acres of land.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Us History: 1865 1898: The Reservation System
In the nineteenth century, Native Americans were confined to reservations to open up land for white settlers.
Other
Historic Trails: Oregon/california Trails
Find a map of the Oregon Trail and California Trail and click Historical Trails tab to discover the hardships and daily grind of traveling on the Oregon Trail.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Pony Express: History and Culture
A good article from the National Park Service which recounts the history of the brief existence of the Pony Express. Read about the route, what caused the demise of the Pony Express, and what part of the trail can still be seen.
Library of Congress
Loc: Exploring With Lewis & Clark
This site from Library of Congress provides a multimedia site using historical documents to tell the story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The movies require high speed access but the site will hold student interest.
Country Studies US
Country Studies: The Plight of the Indians
This site explains how as westward expansion grew, more and more Indians encountered settlers, ranchers and miners who sought life, land, and riches out West. Conflicts between settlers and Indians soon involved the federal government...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Diplomatic Challenges in an Age of European War
Both the British and French challenged American sovereignty and neutrality on the high seas. Read about the solution favored by Thomas Jefferson, but despised by the American shippers. See why this a cause of the War of 1812, along with...
Siteseen
Siteseen: American Historama: Elias Howe Sewing Machine
Detailed facts and fun information on Elias Howe who invented the world's first practical sewing machine in 1846.
Ohio History Central
Ohio History Central: Tecumseh's Confederation
This page describes Tecumseh's work toward an Indian confederacy that would be able to survive against the westward movement of whites.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Southwest Literacy Unit
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart is a literacy unit based around a Southwest / Westward Expansion Theme. Native Americans, pioneers, and the old west is covered. 8 different literacy strategies are taught with FULL...