(Ca. 1783–1890)
The territorial expansion of the United States created challenges and opportunities for the young nation. Significant advances in industrial technology, discoveries of vast natural resources, a series of gold rushes, visions of the destiny of the nation, continuing conflicts between American Indians and settlers, disagreements between slave states and free states, and a number of push and pull factors influenced territorial expansion. The physical, political, and human geography of the United States today reflects, in part, the 19th century expansion of the nation.
U.S. I Standard 6.1:
Students will compare and contrast historians’ interpretations of the ideas, resources, and events that motivated the territorial expansion of the United States.
U.S. I Standard 6.2:
Students will use primary sources representing multiple perspectives to interpret conflicts that arose during American expansion, especially as American Indians were forced from their traditional lands and as tensions grew over free and slave holding territory.
U.S. I Standard 6.3:
Students will identify the economic and geographic impact of the early Industrial Revolution’s new inventions and transportation methods, such as the Erie Canal, the transcontinental railroad, steam engines, the telegraph, the cotton gin, and interchangeable parts.
U.S. I Standard 6.4:
Students will make a case for the most significant cultural, political, and economic impacts of territorial and/or industrial expansion.
Unit Schedule (Will have a link)
Daily Lessons (Will have a link)
Assigned Classwork (Will have a link)
Assigned Homework (Will have a link)
Extra Credit Opportunities (Will have a link)