Digital Public Library of America
Dpla: Staking Claims: The Gold Rush in Nineteenth Century America
This exhibition explores the Gold Rush, a group of related gold rushes to Western territories in the second half of the nineteenth century, and its impact on American history and culture.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Lewis Cass: Triumph of Nationalism: America, 1815 1850
An argument by the Michigan Territorial governor, Lewis Cass, that claimed state laws superseded the rights claimed by Native American tribes like the Cherokee.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: James G. Baldwin: Triumph of Nationalism: America, 1815 1850
An essay that describes the exuberant life of a frontier society with all its corruption, violence, vitality, and opportunity.
Other
Smith D Ray: Earliest Settlement Routes to Tennessee
"A short history of the migration from the east coast to Tennessee highlighting the trails, paths, and roads used." A well-researched site.
New York Public Library
In Motion: The Land Promised Lesson Plan: African American Homesteaders
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...
Have Fun With History
Have Fun With History: American West
Learning module with videos and multi-media resources for students and teachers exploring the west and the pioneering spirit of America in 1804.
Other
American Mountain Men: Mountain Men and the Fur Trade
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...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Revolutionary Limits: Native Americans
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...
US National Archives
Docsteach: Indian Nations vs. Settlers on the American Frontier: 1786 1788
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...
Curated OER
National Park Service: Californio to American: A Study in Cultural Change
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.
Louisiana Department of Education
Louisiana Doe: Louisiana Believes: Social Studies: Grade 4: The Transcontinental Railroad
This sample task contains a set of primary and authentic source documents about the Transcontinental Railroad and the migration of settlers to the West.
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: Trade and Migration, 1840 1850
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...
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: The United States, 1821
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.
Siteseen
Siteseen: American Historama: Oregon Trail
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.
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...
Other
The Gold Rush: Fever
This resource provides information about the Gold Rush, and fever that took place during westward expansion.
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.
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...
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Frontier, "West" and the American Experience
Outline of the American frontier and pioneer experience during westward expanison in the 1800s.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Us History: 1844 1877: Manifest Destiny
A quick comprehension check over the Manifest Destiny.
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.
Other
History and Heritage Connections: The Santa Fe Trail
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.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: The Triumph of Nationalism: House Dividing: America, 1815 1850
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...
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.
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