Land Acquisition and Westward Expansion

Guiding Questions

• How did the acquisition of new territories impact the nation’s growth and development?
• How did westward expansion impact Native American tribes, and what were the consequences of these interactions?

Objectives

Students will…

• Analyze primary and secondary sources to understand five major events in U.S. westward expansion: the Indian Removal Act, Manifest Destiny and Texas, the Mexican-American War, the Gold Rush, and the Gadsden Purchase.
• Collaborate with a partner to synthesize information and communicate historical understanding through discussion and shared writing.
• Identify each event’s 5Ws (Who, What, Where, When, and Why) and explain their historical significance.

Student Resources:

• Cyber Sandwich Summary Review Graphic Organizer

Teacher Resources:

• Cyber Sandwich Slide Deck or printed copies of the slide for a paper-based version
• Polling tool