- Unit 1A: The Civil War
- Unit 1B: Reconstruction
- Unit 2: Westward Expansion and Populism
- Period 2 Table of Contents
- Period 3 Table of Contents
- Period 5 Table of Contents
- Period 6 Table of Contents
Unit 2: Westward Expansion and Populism
Chapter 2
While we remain focused on the Civil War, there is still the governing of a country taking place. The nation has designs on filling the land from the Atlantic to the Pacific and spreading the American culture and way of life to all those they encounter. Encouraged by the US government, farmers took their chances on a new life style on untamed land. New tools, new techniques, new technology, and new challenges pushed farmers to organize and pressure the government to help.
Farmers, miners, railroads, Native Americans, big business, and politics, how will they all mix?
Vocabulary
Slideshows
The slideshows are best if viewed full screen.
Manifest Destiny and Railroads
Use this presentation with (18) Manifest Destiny and Railroads
Homestead Act
Use this presentation with (20) Homestead Act
Morrill Act
Use this presentation with (21) Morrill Act
Populism Guided Notes
Use this presentation with (22) Populism Guided Notes
Online Textbook Resources
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"The Americans" TextbookThe links below will provide you with additional information from this unit.
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USHistory.org Free Online TextbookEach link is to the beginning of a chapter. There are several sections within each chapter; I would like to link to each section, however it becomes too cumbersome for the webpage. Instead, click "Next" on each page to get to the next section of the online textbook. |
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Digital History Free Online TextbookEach link is to a topic in this unit. Within each link there are MANY sections as well as many resources and activities you can investigate to further enrich and deepen your understanding.In this section, focus on "Closing the Western Frontier" and "Tragedy of the Plains Indians." |
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Podcasts
Podcasts can be an engaging form of information that can supplement what you learn in class. I will include episodes to podcasts I have heard and enjoyed that I believe you could benefit from or that you will find interesting related to each topic.
My favorite US History/History Podcasts include:
History This Week |
American History Tellers |
Videos!
Khan Academy - Reconstruction
If you are not familiar with Khan Academy, you should be! It is a GREAT resource for ALL subjects. They have videos and activities to supplement what your teacher is doing in class. Below is a video from Khan Academy regarding Westward Expansion in the period of 1865-1898. It is a good resource to get some more information or to help you study what we covered in class.
America: The Story of Us - Heartland
From the History Channel video, this segment documents Westward Expansion in the period after the Civil War. It demonstrates the environmental challenges faced by Homesteaders and the importance of the railroda in the development of the American West. Use the Video Guide as you watch to get the main points of each segment. Complete each topic as well as the crossword puzzle on the second page.
Crash Course American History #24: Westward Expansion
From the Publisher
In which John Green teaches you about the Wild, Wild, West, which as it turns out, wasn't as wild as it seemed in the movies. When we think of the western expansion of the United States in the 19th century, we're conditioned to imagine the loner. The self-reliant, unattached cowpoke roaming the prairie in search of wandering calves, or the half-addled prospector who has broken from reality thanks to the solitude of his single-minded quest for gold dust. While there may be a grain of truth to these classic Hollywood stereotypes, it isn't a very big grain of truth. Many of the pioneers who settled the west were family groups. Many were immigrants. Many were major corporations. The big losers in the westward migration were Native Americans, who were killed or moved onto reservations. Not cool, American pioneers.