Introduction:
Let's dive into a time when the United States was growing and moving
westward. This project will help you understand why this happened, who was
affected, and the challenges faced during this time. By researching and
analyzing, you'll get to know more about this important part of U.S. history.
Directions:
Research: Look into the time when the U.S. was expanding westward.
Find out about the main events, important people, and reasons for this
movement.
Create Your Portfolio: Your portfolio should have these sections:
Overview: What is Westward Expansion? Why is it important in U.S.
history?
Manifest Destiny: What is Manifest Destiny? How did it encourage
people to move west?
Native Americans: How were Native American communities
affected? What problems did they face?
Oregon Trail: What is the Oregon Trail? Why was it important for
people moving west?
Money Matters: Why did people think moving west would help
them make money? Think about businesses, trade, and new
opportunities.
Politics: How did moving west change politics in the U.S.? Think
about new states joining and the debates about free and slave
states.
Use Different Sources: Find information from books, old documents,
and trusted websites. This will make your research strong.
Make It Look Good: Organize your portfolio neatly. Use headings,
pictures, maps, and charts to make it interesting.
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Give Credit: Always mention where you got your information from. This
can be in styles like MLA or APA.
Questions to Answer in Your Portfolio:
Why did people want to move west? How did the idea of Manifest
Destiny push them?
How were Native Americans affected by this movement? Were there any
big problems between them and the newcomers?
How did the Oregon Trail help people move west? Why was it so
important?
Why did some people think moving west would make them rich?
How did moving west change U.S. politics? Think about new states and
the debates about free and slave states.
What can we learn from this time in history? How does it help us
understand things happening today?
ALTERNATIVE INSTRUCTIONS:
GROWING AMERICA: THE MOVE
WESTWARD
Introduction:
We're going to learn about a time when many people moved to the western
part of the U.S. This project will help you see why this happened and who was
involved.
Directions:
Research: Look up some basic facts about why people moved west. You
can use books, websites, or ask your teacher for help.
Your Project: Create a simple project with these parts:
What is Westward Expansion? Just a few sentences about people
moving west.
Manifest Destiny: What is it? Why did people believe in it?
Native Americans: How did moving west affect them?
Oregon Trail: This was a path many people used. Why was it
important?
Pictures and Drawings: Add some pictures or drawings to your project.
It can be of people, places, or things from that time.
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Where Did You Learn? Write down the names of the books or websites
you used.
Questions to Think About:
Why did some people want to move to the west?
How did Native Americans feel about this?
What was the Oregon Trail and why was it used?
What were some of the challenges faced by people moving westward?
wrigte it
Some of the challenges faced by people moving westward during the expansion of the United States include:
1. Harsh and dangerous terrain: The journey through untamed and often rugged land posed significant challenges and risks. People had to navigate through mountains, deserts, and rivers, often encountering extreme weather conditions and natural obstacles.
2. Lack of infrastructure: The western territories had limited or no roads, bridges, or established settlements. This made the journey difficult and slow, as people had to carve their own paths and face the lack of necessary resources and services.
3. Conflict with Native Americans: The westward expansion led to clashes with Native American tribes, as their ancestral lands were being encroached upon. This resulted in violence and displacement of Native American communities, as they faced aggression, forced relocation, and loss of their way of life.
4. Disease and health issues: The journey westward exposed people to new diseases and health challenges. Lack of medical facilities and proper sanitation often led to outbreaks of illnesses and the loss of many lives.
5. Scarcity of resources: The western territories offered new opportunities for land ownership, natural resources, and economic prospects. However, obtaining these resources was not easy. Land disputes, scarcity of water, and competition for resources often led to conflicts among settlers.
6. Cultural and social isolation: Moving to the west meant leaving behind established communities and networks, resulting in a sense of isolation and loneliness for many settlers. Building new communities and social structures required time and effort.
7. Transportation difficulties: Moving supplies and goods to the western territories was a logistical challenge. Limited transportation options, such as wagons and pack animals, made the movement of goods slow and laborious.
8. Lack of governmental support: The federal government's limited presence in the western territories meant that settlers often had to rely on themselves for protection, governance, and infrastructure development.
Overall, the westward expansion of the United States was a difficult and challenging endeavor, with settlers facing various obstacles and hardships along the way. However, their determination and the belief in Manifest Destiny ultimately shaped the nation's history and identity.