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Voices From Western Expansion Document Analysis Organizer

A student handout that pairs with the four accounts from the Voices of the Westward Expansion lesson.

Objectives

  • I can understand what drove Americans to want to settle further westward.
  • I can understand the impacts that western expansion had on Native Americans.

Directions: Look closely at the photograph provided. Take your time to examine all the details. Use the See-Think-Wonder chart to record your observations and thoughts. There are reflection questions and sentence stems to help prompt your thinking. Write at least 3-4 entries for each column.

See Think Wonder
  • What do you see?
  • List the objects, people, and details that you can observe.
  • Be specific and descriptive.
  • “The photograph shows…”
  • “I can clearly see…”
  • What do you think about that?
  • What conclusions can you draw from what you see?
  • How might these details connect to what you know about western expansion?
  • “The photographer may have wanted to show…”
  • “This makes me think about…”
  • What does it make you wonder?
  • What would you like to learn more about?

Directions: Complete as much of the graphic organizer as possible for each document. Some portions may have less information depending on the document.

Document Voice Intent Environment Who Details and Civic Virtues Questions
General Instructions to Surveyors, 1833
Memorial and Protest of the Cherokee Nation, 1836  
The Donner Party, 1847 
Eldorado: or, Adventures in the Path of Empire, 1850 
Interview of Harriet Scott Palmer, 1939