Did People on the Trail Mix? Or....Get Off My Sod, Buster!

An Integrated, Interdisciplinary, Thematic Unit on The Westward Movement from the Louisiana Purchase (1803) to Wounded Knee (1890) During the 19th century the U.S. almost tripled in size. American settlers moved into these lands for a variety of reasons, displacing the native peoples. Students will gain an understanding of the multiple reasons for westward expansion and the effects it had on our country. They will be able to related past events to present experiences, and gain an appreciation of the role of the human spirit in the struggle for survival.