Website
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: Freedom: A History of Us: Liberty for All? Webisode 3

For Students 9th - 10th
Webisode 3 - Liberty for All? The history of the United States is presented in a series of webisodes, within each are a number of segments.Included are links to lesson plans, teacher guides, resources, activities, and tools.
Handout
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Ap Us History: 1865 1898: Indian Wars and Battle of Little Bighorn

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses the series of events and conflicts in the Indian Wars that culminated in the Battle of the Little Bighorn, or Custer's Last Stand. Includes questions for students at end.
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...
eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: u.s. History: Independence for Texas

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
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...
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1865 1898: Indian Wars/ Battle of the Little Big Horn

For Students 9th - 10th
In the late nineteenth century, the US Army clashed with Native Americans, and General Custer took his last stand.
Unknown Type
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1844 1877: Manifest Destiny

For Students 9th - 10th
A quick comprehension check over the Manifest Destiny.
Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Cause and Effect With Us History

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
[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.
Unit Plan
Department of Defense

Do Dea: Ap Us History: Unit 3: The Growing Republic

For Students 9th - 10th
This extensive learning module examines how the United States' efforts to increase foreign trade, add new territory, and isolate itself from Europe affected its foreign policy and other initiatives. It investigates how advances in...
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Crossword Puzzle Print Out for Kids: Westward Expansion

For Students 9th - 10th
Print out a crossword puzzle game about the Westward Expansion of the US. Learn about history and have fun at the same time.
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Crossword Puzzle Game for Kids: Westward Expansion

For Students 9th - 10th
An interactive and fun crossword puzzle game about the Westward Expansion of the US.
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1865 1898: Westward Expansion: Economic Development

For Students 9th - 10th
In the late nineteenth century, the West developed into a modern agricultural machine- at the expense of farmers.
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1865 1898: The Homestead Act and the Exodusters

For Students 9th - 10th
The Homestead Act of 1862 gave free land to Americans willing to improve it, regardless of race, sex, or nation of origin.
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1865 1898: The Dawes Act

For Students 9th - 10th
The 1887 law intended to assimilate Native Americans led to the loss of millions of acres of land.
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1865 1898: The Reservation System

For Students 9th - 10th
In the nineteenth century, Native Americans were confined to reservations to open up land for white settlers.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Gold in California

For Students 5th - 8th
The gold rush in California accelerated the western migration of thousands of young American men, who streamed into California to find riches. See who else arrived in California and find out what they did. In addition, there is a map...
Unit Plan
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: Freedom: A History of Us: Whose Land Is This? Webisode 8

For Students 9th - 10th
From Joy Hakim's marvelous set of books, A History of US, this webisode offers narrative, pictures, and teaching guides for the settling of the West after the Civil War.
eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: The Mexican American War, 1846 1848

For Students 11th - 12th
After reading this section of a chapter on "Westward Expansion," students will be able to identify the causes of the Mexican-American War and describe the outcomes of the war in 1848 and the effect of the California Gold Rush on westward...
Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: Pony Express: History and Culture

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Handout
The History Cat

The History Cat: The California Gold Rush

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
Lesson Plan
US Mint

U.s. Mint: Our Goal Pole [Pdf]

For Teachers K - 1st
In this four-part lesson, students will demonstate knowledge of the sequencing of events by studying the westward journey, use terms that indicate the sequence of events and demonstrate an understanding of certain historical figures in...
Unit Plan
Nebraska Studies

Nebraska Studies: High Falutin' Beef

For Students 9th - 10th
This is an impressive history of the introduction of beef to the Great Plains region complete with videos, photos, and lesson plans.
Website
Agriculture in the Classroom

U.s. Department of Agriculture: Agriculture in the Classroom

For Students 9th - 10th
Information about agriculture and agricultural practice in America. You can explore specific states or issues that are national in scope. The "Growing a Nation" page helps you understand the role of the American farm in westward expansion.
Lesson Plan
Louisiana Department of Education

Louisiana Doe: Louisiana Believes: English Language Arts, Grade 12: Undaunted Courage

For Teachers 11th - 12th Standards
Students explore ideas prominent throughout westward expansion and American literature: myth versus reality. The texts present various perspectives of the West. Students consider the idealism and romance of the American spirit versus the...