Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: The Gulls of Salt Lake [Pdf]
"The Gulls of Salt Lake" is a one page, fictional, reading passage about a group of early settlers who had endured the hardships of traveling west and planted crops in the fertile soid, only to be invaded by swarms of crickets. Just when...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Settlement Multiple Choice Questions [Pdf]
"Settlement with Multiple Choice Questions" is a one page, nonfiction, reading passage about the hardships of life of the prairie for the early settlers. It is followed by questions which require students to provide evidence from the...
Other
Infrastructure: Back in Time: The National Road
Read this essay about the National Road, its construction, and development of towns along its route.
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: Today in History: January 31: John C. Fremont: The Pathfinder
A biography of a colorful but controversial character of the West, a candidate for president of the United States, and major-general during the Civil War.
US National Archives
Docsteach: The Settlement of the American West
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...
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Arizona Became a New Territory
This 2-page article provides information about how Arizona became a new territory on February 24, 1863, and the corresponding silver and gold rush that encompassed the area.
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: James K. Polk
James K. Polk was the "dark horse" candidate in the presidential election. To learn more about this president, the Library of Congress has a site complete with actual cartoons of the time.
Curated OER
National Park Service: California National Historic Trail
This site from the National Parks Service gives a brief history, and description of the California trail system which was used by settlers moving to California during the 1849 Gold Rush days.
PBS
Wnet: Thirteen: Whose Land Is This? Conflict Between Native Americans & Settlers [Pdf]
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...
Lin and Don Donn
Lin and Don Donn: American History: Oregon Trail
This site written by teachers provides lesson ideas and links to a number of topics related to the Oregon Trail.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Ap Us History: 1865 1898: Indian Wars and Battle of Little Bighorn
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.
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.
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...
Curated OER
Bureau of Land Management: Basic Facts About the Oregon Trail
Learn basic facts about the Oregon Trail and the early pioneers who used it in their move West.
Other
Early America: Milestones: Northwest Ordinance
An introductory summary of the Northwest Ordinance along with a picture of the original document and the text to the full document.
Museum of the City of San Francisco
Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco: California Before Gold Discovery
From the "Century" magazine, an article from 1890 by James Bidwell who came to California in 1841.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Transportation to the Western Frontier
There were several modes of transportation for early settlers to use when they moved to the west. Students will research and document four modes of transportation using the Internet and print resources in the library.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Spice Up the Nineteenth Century!
Students will make interactive outlines using the Internet of the reform movements, literature, trails, religion or technology of the early nineteenth century.
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.
Digital Public Library of America
Dpla: Manifest Destiny
From twentieth-century posters, monuments, and letters to nineteenth-century maps, biographies, and paintings, this set allows students to gain a greater understanding of how perceptions of manifest destiny have changed over time.
Ohio State University
Osu History Teaching Institute: Indian Removal
This lesson looks at the process whereby a policy of assimilation gave way to one of overt removal under President Jackson.
Other
Migration Patterns From Virginia
An informative site that discusses "Causes of Migration, Pathways to the West, and Kentucky and Tennessee." Individual pioneer families are discussed and tracked.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Transcontinental Railroad
Explore the mechanics of railroad trains. Investigate boom towns and explore the life and challenges of sheriffs in these frontier settlements.
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