Manifest Destiny
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Intro: Our class is drawn back to a time period during the 1840's in United States history. This is a time when our country is newly independent, and for many reasons people are looking to expand Westward. Whether you're greedy and in search of gold, a farmer looking for a fresh start, or a businessman looking to expand railroads and technology, you all have the same goal in mind of going West. Throughout your journey you will run into many "problems" along the way, you are to learn from them and keep going as you plan. Good luck with your mission of expanding into the New Territory of our Nation!
Task: Before starting your mission of going West, you will be divided up into one of five groups. Each group represents an actual group of people from the 1840's who were determined, or forced, to go West each for their own reason. The groups consist of Gold Miners, Immigrant/Poor Farmers, Women, Native Americans, Southern Plantation Owners, and Railroad/Businessmen. At the conclusion of the WebQuest the class will have compiled a map of the routes each group above took on their journey West. Also, a poster will be made describing the trip, the hardships along the way, as well as the reasons the group is expanding.
Process: Step 1. The entire class will be given a map of the United States as well as a sheet to use for research and note taking.
Step 2. Students will be split up into 5 different groups. They will represent: Gold Miners, Immigrant/Poor Farmers, Women, Native Americans, Southern Plantation Owners, and Railroad/Businessmen.
Step 3. Once assigned groups, students will find information as to:
A) Why their group wanted to expand West
B) The hardships they found along the way
C) Where it is that they were specifically going
D) How they got there.
Step 4. With their information, students will create a route on the class map of where their group went from East to West, which will be labeled correctly.
Step 5. Students will also create a poster depicting/stating the information that they found for step 3, which they will present and explain to the class.
Step 6. While other groups are presenting, your group is to be taking notes and asking questions when needed.
Resources:
- The Americans textbook, by Danzer
- Classroom notes
All Groups can Use:
- John L. O'Sullivan: Manifest Destiny
- Manifest Destiny encyclopedia
Native Americans:
Gold Miners:
- Manifest Destiny details: Miners
Women:
Oregon Trail (Most Groups):
Railroads/Businessmen:
- Transcontinental Railroad on pbs
Farming, Mining, and Railroads
African Americans (Plantations)
Northern and Southern “Farmers”
- Expansion and Regional Differences
Evaluation/Rubric: (40pts)
- Accurate route created on Map 5
- Poster: (10)
o Details used/explained 5
o Creativity 5
- Explanation of information found to class 10
- Use of accurate information (map, poster, presentation) 5
- Participation within group 5
- Use of resources (don't just use one!) 5
Conclusion: While each group is presenting, students are to be taking notes and following along noticing the differences between each group of people. For a concluding summation, the class will go back through each group and make a chart on the board of similarities and differences of what each group of people had to go through when expanding Westward. A final discussion will take place, fostered by the teacher, of Manifest Destiny and how it affected our Country today.
