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Primary
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: James G. Baldwin: Triumph of Nationalism: America, 1815 1850

For Students 9th - 10th
An essay that describes the exuberant life of a frontier society with all its corruption, violence, vitality, and opportunity.
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Activity
Other

Smith D Ray: Earliest Settlement Routes to Tennessee

For Students 9th - 10th
"A short history of the migration from the east coast to Tennessee highlighting the trails, paths, and roads used." A well-researched site.
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Lesson Plan
New York Public Library

In Motion: The Land Promised Lesson Plan: African American Homesteaders

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The narrative, The Western Migration, features African Americans with agricultural backgrounds who migrated west following the Civil War and availed themselves of the opportunity to homestead. The Land Promised is designed for use in...
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Unit Plan
Have Fun With History

Have Fun With History: American West

For Students 9th - 10th
Learning module with videos and multi-media resources for students and teachers exploring the west and the pioneering spirit of America in 1804.
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Website
Other

American Mountain Men: Mountain Men and the Fur Trade

For Students 9th - 10th
On-line research center features numerous resources dedicated to the history of the Mountain Men in the American West. This project includes primary sources, images, maps, artwork, newspaper articles, artifacts, and links to related...
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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...
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Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Docsteach: Indian Nations vs. Settlers on the American Frontier: 1786 1788

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this activity, students will compare and contrast two documents from the Revolutionary period written by 1) a combined group of Native American tribes and 2) an American territorial governor, Arthur St. Clair. Students will analyze...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

National Park Service: Californio to American: A Study in Cultural Change

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This site has a lesson about the ranching industry, creation of California towns and the changes over time. Contains information, inquiry question, historical context, maps, readings, and images.
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Lesson Plan
Louisiana Department of Education

Louisiana Doe: Louisiana Believes: Social Studies: Grade 4: The Transcontinental Railroad

For Teachers 4th
This sample task contains a set of primary and authentic source documents about the Transcontinental Railroad and the migration of settlers to the West.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: Trade and Migration, 1840 1850

For Students 9th - 10th
A map of the United States showing the principal trade and westward migration routes between 1840 and 1850. The map shows state and territory boundaries at the time, major cities, ports, outposts, forts, and settlements, rivers, mountain...
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Graphic
Curated OER

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: The United States, 1821

For Students 9th - 10th
A map of the United States and territories showing the westward expansion after the Missouri Compromise (1820) and the admission of Missouri into the Union in 1821.
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Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: American Historama: Oregon Trail

For Students 9th - 10th
The Oregon Trail was the important route taken by settlers from the east migrating to build a new life in the western part of the United States covering over 2000 miles.
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Handout
Country Studies US

Country Studies: The Plight of the Indians

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
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Handout
Other

The Gold Rush: Fever

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides information about the Gold Rush, and fever that took place during westward expansion.
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Handout
Ohio History Central

Ohio History Central: Tecumseh's Confederation

For Students 3rd - 8th
This page describes Tecumseh's work toward an Indian confederacy that would be able to survive against the westward movement of whites.
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Diplomatic Challenges in an Age of European War

For Students 5th - 8th
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...
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Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: The Frontier, "West" and the American Experience

For Students 9th - 10th
Outline of the American frontier and pioneer experience during westward expanison in the 1800s.
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Unknown Type
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1844 1877: Manifest Destiny

For Students 9th - 10th
A quick comprehension check over the Manifest Destiny.
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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.
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Handout
Other

History and Heritage Connections: The Santa Fe Trail

For Students 9th - 10th
This website provides a good introduction to the Santa Fe Trail. It describes life on the trail, provides pictures of the trail today, and includes major events concerning the trail.
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Website
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: The Triumph of Nationalism: House Dividing: America, 1815 1850

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A collection of forty-four primary resources including historical documents, literary texts, visual images, and maps, illuminated and contextualized by notes, thematic questions, and text-specific discussion questions for classroom...
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Website
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: Meriwether Lewis 1774 1809

For Students 3rd - 8th
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.
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Website
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: Meriwether Lewis

For Students 6th - 8th
A biography of Meriwether Lewis, the man in charge of one of the great expeditions of the United States. (In Spanish)
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Lesson Plan
Harry S. Truman Library and Museum

The Trumpet Club: The Birchbark House

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
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.

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