Growth of a Nation Research

Essential Question: How did the work of individuals and groups during westward expansion (roughly 1800-1860) shape America today?

Students can use the links below to research their topic. After completing research on selected topics, students deliver a presentation. Students use information and images gathered through research to support their presentation and written work. Click here to download the PowerPoint presentation template.

Checked as of July, 2007:

19th Century Maps

General (multi-topic) on these sites do a key word search related to your topic:

1. American Memory: memory.loc.gov/ammem/
2. National Archives - www.archives.gov/search/index.html
3. History Channel's Eyewitness to History - www.eyewitnesstohistory.com
4. Museum of Westward Expansion - www.nps.gov/jeff/expansion_museum.html
5. National Atlas - http://nationalatlas.gov/
6. Territory Maps - http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MAP/terr_hp.html
7. Digital History, University of Chicago - http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/modules/westward/index.cfm
8. www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/
9. usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/histryotln/index.htm
10. www.madison.k12.wi.us/tnl/detectives/History/U.S._History/III.__Expansion_and_Reform--1801-1861/
11. www.archives.gov/national_archives_experience/charters/constitution_founding_fathers.html
12. www.firstladies.org/

By topic - have a site to add? Let me know....

1. Africans in America - Compromise of 1850 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2952.html
2. The Alamo - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/alamo/sfeature/sf_alamo.html
3. Susan B. Anthony memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/nov12.html
4. Susan B. Anthony www.susanbanthonyhouse.org/biography.html
5. American Buffalo www.natureshift.org/Whawk/lodge/buffalo/
6. Jim Bowie - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/alamo/peopleevents/p_bowie.html
7. John Brown's Holy War www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/brown/
8. Buffalo Bill Cody, PBS the West
   www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/a_c/buffalobill.htm
   www.ponyexpress.org/pony%20riders.htm
9. Davy Crockett - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/alamo/peopleevents/p_crockett.html
10. The Donner Party - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/donner/
11. Robert Fulton, Inventor -
    www.history.rochester.edu/steam/thurston/fulton/
    xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/DETOC/transport/fulton.html
    www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trr024.html
12. Sam Houston - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/alamo/peopleevents/p_houston.html
13. Jesse James http://www.legendsofamerica.com/WE-JesseJames.html
14. Kansas-Nebraska Act and more, Territorial Kansas Online - http://www.territorialkansasonline.org/cgiwrap/imlskto/index.php
15. Bleeding Kansas - a script http://ktwu.washburn.edu/journeys/scripts/2004/1707a.html
16. Lewis and Clark www.42explore2.com/lewisclark.htm
17. Louisiana Purchase lsm.crt.state.la.us/cabildo/cab4.htm
18. Factories -Mill Workers http://womenshistory.about.com/od/worklowellmill/
19. Nat Love - Life and Adventures docsouth.unc.edu/neh/natlove/natlove.html
20. Native American Voices - http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/native_voices/native_voices.cfm
21. Annie Oakley - http://www.dorchesterlibrary.org/library/aoakley.html
22. James Polk - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/presidents/11_polk/
23. Pony Express History
    www.ponyexpress.org/history.htm
    www.ponyexpress.org/stations.htm
24. John Lesley Powell - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/canyon/peopleevents/pandeAMEX05.html
25. Railroads www.archives.gov/digital_classroom/lessons/anti_railroad_propaganda/
26. Slavery and the Making of America www.pbs.org/wnet/slavery/
27. Sacagawea www.pbs.org/lewisandclark/inside/saca.html
28. Sacagawea womenshistory.about.com/library/weekly/aa051199.htm
29. Santa Fe Trail www.nps.gov/safe/
30. Sojourner Truth digital.library.upenn.edu/women/truth/1850/1850.html
31. Sojourner Truth www.lkwdpl.org/wihohio/trut-soj.htm
32. Stanton www2.worldbook.com/features/whm/html/whm010.html
33. Tecumseh www.ohiohistorycentral.org/ohc/history/h_indian/people/tecumseh.shtml
34. Tecumseh www.indigenouspeople.net/tecumseh.htm
35. Eli Thayer - Bleeding Kansas http://www.kansashistoryonline.org/ksh/ArticlePage.asp?artid=107
36. Eli Whitney http://www.eliwhitney.org/
37. Eli Thayer - Bleeding Kansas http://www.kansashistoryonline.org/ksh/ArticlePage.asp?artid=107
38. Eli Whitney http://www.eliwhitney.org/ - Bleeding Kansas http://www.kansashistoryonline.org/ksh/ArticlePage.asp?artid=107
39. Chinese Immigration memory.loc.gov/learn/features/timeline/riseind/chinimms/
40. Primary source for circus memory.loc.gov/learn/features/timeline/riseind/work/circus.html

Click here to download a sample presenation on John Muir.