Settling the West

Unit Guide

Michigan Standards
F2 Describe the major Geographic, Economic, Social, and Demographic
Trends in America prior to 1877

F2.1 Describe the major trends and transformations in American life prior to 1877 including:
changing political boundaries of the United States
regional economic differences and similarities, including goods produced and nature of labor
force
changes in the size, location, and composition of the population
patterns of immigration and migration
development of cities
changes in commerce, transportation, and communication

Unit Reflection Questions:

What is your generations frontier and how will you conquer it?
How did we do as a nation in advancing towards our ideals during this era?

Essential Questions:
1. What role did Western expansion play on American Culture?
2. How did Western expansion play a part in the development of the U.S. as a
country?
3. How did Western Expansion in the United States align with our Founding Ideals?

Learning Targets
You will be able to:
Describe the causes that led to Western Expansion along with its effects on the
West and the United States.
Analyze and discuss the importance of Western Expansion for the United States.

Identify the importance of miners, farmers, ranchers and the transcontinental

railroad to westward expansion and the United States.
Analyze and discuss Native American policiesprimarily during the late 1800s.

Focus Questions:
1. What is the importance of the American West for the United States?
2. Why did people choose to move west and how successful were these people?
3. What role did miners, farmers, ranchers and the transcontinental railroad play in
settling the west?
4. Identify and describe the three major groups of people that participated in
western expansion?
5. How did agricultural inventions in the 1800s affect farming, farmers, farm prices
and consumers?
6. What impact did western expansion have on Native Americans?

Key American West Terms:

(You should be able to identify, use and explain the

following terms)

Battle of Little Big Horn

Wounded Knee Massacre
Americanization
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Dawes Act
Reservation
nomads
assimilate

placer mining
hydraulic mining
hard-rock mining
dry farming
sod house
sodbuster
homestead
Homestead Act

Pacific Railway Act

Morrill Act
Frederick Jackson Turner
Exoduster
open range
Joseph Glidden
Chisholm Trail
bonanza farm

Resources:

Textbook Reading, Questions & Reviews: Textbook United States History &
Geography Modern Times Chapter 2, Settling the West, pages 93-114. Answer
keys are available for Chapter 2 Review, pg.112, questions 1-11 in order to
formatively check your knowledge and understanding.
Online Textbook & Planner: Many resources available, ranging from pictures,
charts, graphs, videos, games, worksheets, graphic organizers, Self-Check
Quizzes (one for each unit) and more.
Lecture/Teaching: Study.com / History 104 U.S. History II There are 3 video
teachings in this chapterlinks for all can be found on the class website in the
Online Teachings tab. I will also have an online teaching that goes along with
The American West PowerPoint.
American West PowerPoint: The American West PowerPoint is available on
the class website in the Online Teachings tab and in the Online
Textbook/Planner.
Classroom Study Groups: Students can choose to work with a group of
students to complete readings, reviews, worksheets, graphic organizers, etc.
Could be level 2 or 3 learning.
Classroom Discussion Groups: Students can choose to work with a group of
students to discuss, evaluate and analyze unit content and concepts.
o This is definitely a level 3, extend and refine knowledge activity. At this
point you should be analyzing and evaluating the content at a deeper
level.
How did this era contribute to the development of the U.S.?

What can we learn from this time period to apply today?

How does this era help us better understand who we are as a nation
today?
Online Discussions: There will be a variety of discussions in our My
Discussions section of out Online Textbook/Planner to help you increase your
understanding of unit content and concepts, BUT also feel free to start own
discussion topic about this unit.
MEYOUR TEACHER: Dont forget to ask me questions, both about The
American West or about strategies for learning; Especially if you need guidance
setting up an effective plan to learn the material.