Westward Expansion!

America expands west!

Think about it
If your family was moving across to country
to a place where there was NOTHING in
the place where you were movingno
houses or stores or anythingwhat ten
things would you definitely pack and why?

What qualities do you think a pioneer

should have? List three and explain.
Before and after
Where did they go?
Most pioneers left their homes in the east and headed
westward to the Great Plains in the west
The Great Plains is a huge area of grassland between the
Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains
Why move west?
Rumors of gold!
Thousands moved west to California to mine for gold.
Gold Fever! California Gold Rush! 49ers!
Free land!
Homestead Act: To those who were eligible, the U.S. gave 160
acres of land.
21 year old heads of households who agreed to build on and care for the
land
Adventure and escape!
Many moved simply to experience adventure and/or to escape
from situations that they didnt care for
Manifest Destiny
Many believed that they were destined, or meant to, expand
the U.S. from Sea to Shining Sea.
 How did they travel?
Wagons!
Most families packed up their valuables and their necessities in a
covered wagon.
Groups of wagons called wagon trains often traveled together.
Family members took turns riding in wagons and walking
beside the wagons.
Captains often led these trains.
What dangers did they face?
Lack of food, water, and shelter
Lack of protection from the weather (floods, storms)
Lack of medical care
Exposure to Native Americans who felt threatened by the
presence of settlers
Conflict with other settlers- They sometimes were
competing for the same land and resources (water, animals,
trees). Sometimes small range wars broke out. These were
feuds between neighboring settlers.
What was life like on the prairie?
Many arrived to find huge empty areas of land.
They built homes (log or sod houses)
They found sources of water and foodsome lived near
creeks or rivers while others had to make windmills to pump
water out of the ground.
Many were miles from their nearest neighbors or trading
postslonely.
Harsh weather that they werent used to.
Different soil for raising crops and animals.
From a prairie woman
It might seem a cheerless life, but there were many
compensations: the thrill of conquering a new country; the
wonderful atmosphere; the attraction of the prairie, which
simply gets into your blood and makes you dissatisfied away
from itThe pioneer spirit was continuous in our family
A sad part of history
Many Native Americans were unfairly driven from the lands
that theyd lived on for many, many years because the U.S.
government claimed it. They were forced to move to
reservations.

Herds of wild bison became nearly extinct as settlers began

to use them as sources of food and shelter.
Eventually
So many pioneers traveled west that
Small cities and towns popped up in the west.
Many families grew as they lived in the west.
Immigrants moved into the west.

These westward areas were eventually added as states, which

are much more populated today.
More info
Watch the BrainPop on this topic!
Visit these sites!
http://www.thecaliforniatrail.com/gowest/
http://www.kidinfo.com/american_history/pioneers.html
http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/
http://www.americanwest.com/
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/owfrm.htm
Pioneer Life: http://library.thinkquest.org/J001587/