1. Aim:How did the United States expand in the 19th century?
Do now: Copy the following definition into your notebook:
Manifest Destiny - belief that the US should occupy the entire continent

2. Evaluate the following image and quote
[It is America’s] “Manifest Destiny to overspread and to possess the whole of the continent which Providence [God] has given us.” - John O’Sullivan, NY newspaper editor, 1840
American Progress, 1872

3. Project: Museum Curator
Scenario: You work for the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC. You have been charged with designing an exhibit dealing with the Westward expansion of the United States.
Task: Create a museum display about your assigned segment of Westward Expansion

4. Westward Expansion Project
Project Pieces
A map dealing with your topic
A journal entry from a person living through your topic
An explanation of the conflict that emerged in your topic
Images that help explain your topic w/ brief captions

5. Westward Expansion Project
Resources
The American Journey
A - “The Oregon Country” (pg )
B - “Independence for Texas” (pg )
C - “War w/ Mexico” (pg )
D - “California & Utah” (pg )
NYSTROM US History Atlas (pg.46-49)

6. Answer the following questions in your notebook by viewing other students’ museum displays:
What methods did the US use to expand in the 1800s?
What reasons did the US have for expansion in the 1800s?
What was the Oregon Trail?
What was the Gold Rush (1849)?
Why did the US have a war with Mexico ( )?
What was the US’s role in Texas’ independence?

7. Answer one of the following three questions on paper that can be collected in at least 1 paragraph:
Are the United States’ actions in the 1800s to expand justifiable [OK, right, appropriate]? How?
What groups of people lost something as a result of US expansion in the 1800s? Are their losses more/less important than US gains? Why?
What are some of the short and long term consequences of US expansion? Be specific.