Westward Expansion Planning

4th Grade

When do I go west?

• Louisiana Purchase– When did this happen?– Who owned the land? What areas of the US did it

cover?– How much did it cost?– How did this purchase impact the growth of our

country?– What opportunities arose from this purchase?

When do I go west?

• Lewis and Clark– Who were they and why were they chosen to

explore the west?– Who and what did they take with them?– What challenges did they face along the way?– What did they discover?– Did their exploration impact expansion? Why/Why

not?

Why do I go west?

• What were the reasons for going west?• What were people looking for?• What were the benefits and drawbacks for

going west?

How do I go west?

• The Trails– Why were there many trails going west?– What were the different purposes of each trail?– How did the trails get their names? – Who mapped out the trails?

How do I go west?

• Wagon trains and supplies– What is a wagon train? Why would you want to

join one?– What were the benefits and drawbacks to

traveling in a wagon train?– Are there any well known trains that traveled on

the Oregon trail?– What types of wagons were used and why?– What supplies were ESSENTIAL for travel?

How do I go west?

• Landmarks and maps– List and describe at least 10 famous landmarks

(natural/man made) along the Oregon Trail.– Why were landmarks important?– What did a map look like at that time and how did

you get one?

Who and what affected my travel?

• Frontier Life on the trail– What skills would you need to make the trip west?– Describe the daily life on the trail– How did the travelers find entertainment along

the trail?

Who and what affected my travel?

• Native Americans– What did the Native Americans teach the pioneers

who traveled along the trail?– How do you think the Native Americans felt during

this time?

Who and what affected my travel?

• Hardships– Diseases– Terrain– Starvation/thirst– People– Weather