westwardexpansion powerpoint

7/27/2019 WestwardExpansion Powerpoint

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America expands west!

Westward Expansion!


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Think about itIf your family was moving across to country

to a place where there was NOTHING in

the place where you were movingnohouses or stores or anythingwhat ten

things would you definitely pack and why?

What qualities do you think a pioneershould have? List three and explain.


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Before and after


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Where did they go? Most pioneers left their homes in the east and headed

westward to the Great Plains in the west

The Great Plains is a huge area of grassland between theMississippi River and the Rocky Mountains


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Why move west? Rumors of gold!

Thousands moved west to California to mine for gold. Gold Fever! California Gold Rush! 49ers!

Free land! Homestead Act: To those who were eligible, the U.S. gave 160

acres of land.

21 year old heads of households who agreed to build on and care for theland

Adventure and escape! Many moved simply to experience adventure and/or to escape

from situations that they didnt care for


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How did they travel? Wagons!

Most families packed up their valuables and their necessities in acovered wagon

Groups of wagons called wagon trains often traveled together

Family members took turns riding in wagons and walkingbeside the wagons

Captains often led these trains


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What dangers did they face? Lack of food, water, and shelter Lack of protection from the weather (floods, storms) Lack of medical care Exposure to Native Americans who felt threatened by the

presence of settlers

Conflict with other settlers- they sometimes were competingfor the same land and resources (water, animals, trees).

Sometimes small range wars broke out. These were feudsbetween neighboring settlers.


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What was life like on the prairie? Many arrived to find huge empty areas of land Built homes (log or sod houses) Found sources of water and foodsome lived near creeks or

rivers while others had to make windmills to pump water outof the ground

Many were miles from their nearest neighbors or tradingpostslonely

Harsh weather that they werent used to Different soil for raising crops and animals


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From a prairie woman It might seem a cheerless life, but there were many

compensations: the thrill of conquering a new country; the

wonderful atmosphere; the attraction of the prairie, which

simply gets into your blood and makes you dissatisfied awayfrom itThe pioneer spirit was continuous in our family


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A sad part of history

Many Native Americans were unfairly driven from the landsthat theyd lived on for many, many years because the U.S.

government claimed it. They were forced to move to

reservations.

Herds of wild bison became nearly extinct as settlers beganto use them as sources of food and shelter


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Eventually So many pioneers traveled west that

Small cities and towns popped up in the west Many families grew as they lived in the west

Immigrants moved into the west

These westward areas were eventually added as states whichare much more populated today


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More info Watch the BrainPop on this topic! Visit these sites!

http://www.thecaliforniatrail.com/gowest/ http://www.kidinfo.com/american_history/pioneers.html http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/ http://www.americanwest.com/ http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/owfrm.htm

Pioneer Life: http://library.thinkquest.org/J001587/

westwardexpansion powerpoint

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