1. The Changing Geography of the United States

2. Our country did not always stretch from “sea to shining sea” As you know, our nation started out with 13 original colonies, which later became states. Type the names of each of the original states in your state table, then click on this slide to continue (be sure you only choose the 13 original states). Continue

3. The Changing Geography of the United States In order to find the date that each of these thirteen original states became part of the United States, click on the link below. This will take you to the Library of Congress’ “Explore the States”. When there, click on the state you need information for. Once you have typed that information in the State Table (your word document), click on “pick another state” at the bottom of the information on the Explore the States site. This will take you back to the map page where you can choose another state and repeat the process. When you have all the information you need, close that window to return to here. Click here to go to Library of Congress Explore the States Click here to go to Library of Congress Explore the StatesContinue

4. The Changing Geography of the United States Now, on your blank United States map, color in these 13 original states using one color. Begin your map key by coloring a small box with this same color and labeling it “Original Thirteen States”. (you will be adding more key entries below this one so be sure and leave room) Write this title at the top of your map: Continue “Geographical Changes in the United States” “Geographical Changes in the United States”

5. The Changing Geography of the United States Take a look at the physical map of the United States in your classroom or in your atlas and consider the following question: Question 1 - What things do you see on the map that might What things do you see on the map that might have been obstacles for the United States have been obstacles for the United States to grow westward? to grow westward? Write your answer to this question on your handout. Continue

6. The Changing Geography of the United States Let’s look at how some of these obstacles were actually overcome – Click below to discover who found a way over the Appalachian Mountains Continue Click Here Click Here After reading all three pages, close the window to return here

7. The Changing Geography of the United States Now write the answers to the following questions on your worksheet: Question 2 – Who discovered a trail across the Appalachian Mountains into Kentucky? Question 3 – What was this trail called? Continue Click Here to review the information Click Here to review the information (when you’re finished reading, remember to close that window to return here) (when you’re finished reading, remember to close that window to return here)

8. The Changing Geography of the United States At this point we are going to analyze a historical map (1793) to see how the nation has changed – specifically, how many states have been added since the original thirteen. Continue Explore the States Explore the States Now, click on “ Explore the States” to look up each new state’s year of entry into the United States. Type this information in your state table. Click on the map thumbnail to link to a page where you can study the map. As you find additional states, type them in your state table (word document). When you have found all the new states, close that window to return here.

9. The Changing Geography of the United States On your United States map we are creating, color in the new states that you found using one color (different from any other that has been used). Add to your map key by coloring a small box with the color you used for this map and labeling it “1793 map” Continue

10. The Changing Geography of the United States Click below to learn about another event that greatly increased the United States’ ability to expand westward Continue Click Here Click Here After reading all three pages, close the window to return here

11. The Changing Geography of the United States Now write the answers to the following questions on your worksheet: Question 4 – Who did we buy this land from? Question 5 – What was this new land called? Question 6 – Why were we so interested in buying this additional land? Continue Click Here to review the information Click Here to review the information (when you’re finished reading, remember to close that window to return here) (when you’re finished reading, remember to close that window to return here)

12. The Changing Geography of the United States Now read about one of the men who explored this new land. Continue Click Here Click Here After reading all three pages, close the window to return here

13. The Changing Geography of the United States We will now analyze a map from 1836. As before, we want to see how many states have been added since our map from 1793. Continue Explore the States Explore the States Now, either click on “ Explore the States” or bring back up your window containing that site to look up each new state’s year of entry into the United States. Type this information in your state table. Click on the map thumbnail to link to a page where you can study it. As you find additional states, type them in your state table (word document). When you have found all the new states, close that window to return here.

14. The Changing Geography of the United States On your United States map we are creating, color in the new states that you found using one color (different from any other that has been used). Add to your map key by coloring a small box with the color you used for this map and labeling it “1836 map” Continue

15. The Changing Geography of the United States As land became more expensive in the east, more people became interested in moving west. Soon, set trails were laid out by those who knew the land through exploration. Click on the map to read about some of these. Continue Could you read both sets of text?

16. The Changing Geography of the United States We are going to continue to analyze maps from different years to determine how the country has changed over time. Next is a map from 1857. How many states can you find that have been added since our map from 1836? Continue Explore the States Explore the States Now, click on “ Explore the States” to look up each new state’s year of entry into the United States. Type this information in your state table. Click on the map thumbnail to link to a page where you can study it. As you find additional states, type them in your state table (word document). When you have found all the new states, close that window to return here.

17. The Changing Geography of the United States On your United States map we are creating, color in the new states that you found using one color (different from any other that has been used). Add to your map key by coloring a small box with the color you used for this map and labeling it “1857 map” Continue

18. The Changing Geography of the United States Two more maps to go! Next is a map from 1901. How many states can you find that have been added since our map from 1857? Continue Explore the States Explore the States Now, click on “ Explore the States” to look up each new state’s year of entry into the United States. Type this information in your state table. Click on the map thumbnail to link to a page where you can study it. As you find additional states, type them in your state table (word document). When you have found all the new states, close that window to return here.

19. The Changing Geography of the United States On your United States map we are creating, color in the new states that you found using one color (different from any other that has been used). Add to your map key by coloring a small box with the color you used for this map and labeling it “1901 map” Continue

20. The Changing Geography of the United States Last map! Our last map is a map from 1923. How many states can you find that have been added since our map from 1901? Continue Explore the States Explore the States Now, click on “ Explore the States” to look up each new state’s year of entry into the United States. Type this information in your state table. Click on the map thumbnail to link to a page where you can study it. As you find additional states, type them in your state table (word document). When you have found all the new states, close that window to return here.

21. The Changing Geography of the United States On your United States map we are creating, color in the new states that you found using one color (different from any other that has been used). Add to your map key by coloring a small box with the color you used for this map and labeling it “1923 map” Continue

22. The Changing Geography of the United States You should now have 48 of our 50 states in your state table (word document). Go ahead and add Alaska and Hawaii at this point and look up in “Explore the States” to look up when they joined the United States. Continue Explore the States Explore the States We now want to sort our State Table by the year that each state was made a part of the United States. The directions for doing this are on your worksheet.

23. The Changing Geography of the United States Congratulations! You have learned how to analyze historical maps as well as learned something about how our country grew to the size it is today. Please turn in the following: Your United States map that you colored Your United States map that you colored Your worksheet Your worksheet Be sure to save your State Table into your personal folder and print Be sure to save your State Table into your personal folder and print a copy to turn in a copy to turn in