ObjectivesHow government policies and action influenced the patterns of migration and settlement along the Western frontier (e.g., Land Ordinance of 1785, Northwest Ordinance of 1787, Louisiana Purchase/Lewis and Clark Expedition, Mexican War, Gadsden Purchase, Kansas-Nebraska Act, Homestead Act). (Emphasis on topics in bold italics)
• How and to what extent the westward expansion of the United States influenced the spread of slavery. • How, why and to what extent various groups of people took the opportunity to move westward during the 19th Century territorial expansion of the United States (e.g. Mormons, Forty-niners, Homesteaders). • How and to what extent the westward expansion of the United States influenced the spread of slavery. • To what extent the nation’s territorial expansion westward led to cultural diffusion and conflict between various groups (e.g., 49ers, Mormons, homesteaders, American Indians, African freedmen, Asian immigrants and Mexicans). • How politicians, opportunists and/or activists either defended or protested expansionism and Manifest Destiny (e.g., James K. Polk, John L. O’Sullivan and Henry David Thoreau). (Inalienable rights, property rights, individual responsibility) • How and why the nation’s territorial expansion westward and its belief in Manifest Destiny had both national and sectional economic consequences. (Federalism) • How the belief in “Manifest Destiny” and the nation’s territorial expansion westward led to cultural diffusion and conflict between various groups (e.g., 49ers, Mormons, homesteaders, American Indians, African freedmen, Asian immigrants and Hispanics). (Federalism) • How American Indians were impacted by European colonization and the nation’s westward expansion. (Private property rights) • How, why and to what extent the Mexican War invoked antiwar sentiment and sectionalism in the United States. • How, why and to what extent the outcome of the Mexican War led to the economic development of the United States and the expansion and settlement of the Western frontier. (Federalism, private property rights, inalienable rights) • How and why expansionism and a national belief in Manifest Destiny led to the Mexican War. • How various diplomatic treaties/agreements (Treaty and Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo) enabled political security and nationalism. • How and why political parties continued to debate the proper role of government long after the War for Independence ended. • How and to what extent American participation in and debate over war shaped the development and platforms of national political parties. (Federalism, individual responsibility) Combine this and objective above and conduct a mock election from this time period – should be Election of 1844) • How and why did many Northerners oppose the Mexican War? Fate of the Native Americans • How and to what extent the westward movement and settlement of European colonists and United States citizens impacted the culture and movement of American Indians. The Alamo
Election of 1844 Texas Annexation “54-40 or Fight!” Mexican War* Wilmot Proviso Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo* 49ers Stephen Austin Gadsden Purchase Lewis and Clark Oregon Trail |
ResourcesManifest Destiny Lesson Plan (SHEG)
Manifest Destiny worksheet pack (views on Manifest Destiny, Trails to West map, Settlement of Texas, Texas Annexation, Americans in Mexico, Oregon, Wilmot Provisio, Compromise of 1850 Mexican-American War Outline Map Opening the West Outline Map Texas Independence Outline map Trails to the West Outline Map |