Westward Expansion:A time period in America during the

late 18oo’s when people started settling west of the Mississippi River.

Reasons for Westward Movement•Use the United Streaming video to help you list reasons people decided to settle out West!•http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=DB605A47-3775-403E-9396-C6B2C364159F&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US

Reasons for

heading west

Westward Expansion:Lesson Essential Question

#1

What were the geographic factors that influenced WE and how did they affect travel

and settlement?

Vocabulary: Geographic Factors – Natural features of the

earth (includes: natural environment, climate and physical features.

Mountain Range – a series of mountains

River – a natural stream of water, sometimes large, flowing in definite

direction

Terrain – layout of the land

Vegetation – Plant life in a particular place

Climate – weather conditions of a region

Natural Resource – Elements that occur naturally on earth, such forests, fresh water, rocks and minerals, etc.

Settlement- The act of settling in a new place.

Pioneer – person who settles in a new place (settler)

Technology - new inventions to make life easier

Irrigation – Using pipes and channels to bring water to a desired place

Westward ExpansionPart I:

The effects the natural

environment had on travel and settlement

•Pioneers traveled to embarkation (starting) points, such as St. Louis, which came to be called the “gateway to the West.”

•From there they traveled by covered wagon across trails that had originally been used by Native Americans.

•Pioneers traveled Native American trails and created guidebooks to help show others the way to the West.

•At first, migrants skipped over the Great Plains and settled the west coast because they thought the land was too dry and flat to grow crops.

Effects of Geographic Factors on Travel

Geographic Factors

(natural environment, climate and physical

features )

•Mountain ranges, rivers, and deserts formed many obstacles as the pioneers traveled west.

•Trails were often impossible to travel during spring because heavy rains caused flooding. Winter snow and ice made travel difficult.

•Therefore, the pioneers had to move during the fall and summer when the weather didn’t create as many problems.

•Pioneers also had to travel the major rivers, such as, the Mississippi, the Columbia, the Colorado, and the Snake River.

Effects of Geographic Factors on Travel

Geographic Factors

(natural environment, climate and physical

features )

•Pioneers traveled to _________ (starting) points, such as ___________, which came to be called the “________ to the ______.”

•From there they traveled by ______ ________across _______that had originally been used by _____Americans.

•_______traveled Native American trails and created _______ to help show others the way to the ______.

•At first, _______ skipped over the ______ ______and settled on the ____ coast because they thought the land was too ____ and ____ to grow crops.

Effects of __________ Factors on _______

Geographic Factors

(natural environment, climate and physical

features )

•Mountain ______, rivers, and ________ formed many ________ as the ________ traveled west.

•Trails were often _______ to travel during _____ because heavy ______ caused ______. Winter _____ and ice made travel ________.

•Therefore, the pioneers had to ______ during the _____ and _____ when the ______ didn’t create as many problems.

•Pioneers also had to travel the major ______, such as, the __________, the _______, the _______ and the ______ River.

Effects of _________ Factors on ________

Geographic Factors

(natural environment, climate and physical

features )

•When pioneers first arrived on the Great Plains, the dry flat land was difficult to farm.

•The Great Plains quickly became known as the “Great American Desert.”

•However, with the help of new technology, the Great Plains became one of the most fertile farming lands in the country.

•Technology developed: -Steel plow: used to till the hard packed earth -Windmill: brought scarce water to the surface -Russian Wheat: seeds that would grow in the challenging climate -Mechanical Reaper: machine that harvests crops instead of picking by hand

Effects of Geographic Factors on Settlement

Geographic Factors

(natural environment, climate and physical

features )

•Hot, dry summers brought droughts, dust storms, grass fires and swarms of insects (grasshoppers).

•Winters brought major snowfalls.

•Spring floods, tornadoes, and hailstorms often destroyed and ruined the crops.

Effects of Geographic Factors on Settlement

Geographic Factors

(natural environment, climate and physical

features )

•When pioneers first arrived on the ______ ______, the dry, flat _____ was difficult to ______.

•The Great Plains quickly became known as the “______ _______ _______.

•However, with the help of new _______, the Great Plains became one of the most ______ farming lands in the _______.

•Technology developed: -______ ______: used to till the hard packed earth -Windmill: brought ______ water to the _______ -_______ Wheat: seeds that would grow in the challenging ________ -Mechanical Reaper: machine that _______ crops instead of picking by _______

Effects of Geographic Factors on Settlement

Geographic Factors

(natural environment, climate and physical

features )

•Hot, ______ summers brought ________, dust storms, grass fires and ______ of insects (grasshoppers).

•Winters brought major _________.

•Spring floods, ________, and hailstorms often destroyed and _______ the crops.

Effects of Geographic Factors on Settlement

Geographic Factors

(natural environment, climate and physical

features )