TOPIC 7:
WHY THEY WENT WEST
FOCUS ACTIVITY
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Lesson Toolbox
Words to KnowIn Order of Appearance
migrations: movement of a large group of people from one place to another immigrant: a person who moves from another country to live in the United States prosperous: successful; doing well motivations: the reasons for doing something mountain man: a fur trapper and explorer who lived in the American West Manifest Destiny: a belief held by many Americans that the United States had a mission or duty to expand west all the way to the Pacific Ocean, spreading American culture and American values Mormons: members of the Church Of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints founded by Joseph Smith gold fever: being driven to move to California in hopes of striking it rich in the Gold Rush Comstock Lode: The richest silver deposit in American history discovered in 1857 in Nevada. Homestead Act: U.S. law stating that a U.S. Citizen could get 160 acres of unoccupied land west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains to keep if they lived on and made improvements to the land for five years. land rushes: when people raced to claim the best plots of land Transcontinental Railroad: a railroad that crossed over the entire continent of North American from the East coast to West Coast innovation: a new idea or way of doing things or an improvement on something infrastructure: the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) that are needed for a place to function properly emigrants: people who move from one region of the United States to another region in the United States Missionaries: people who travel to places to teach their religion to the people living in those places U.S. Marshal: federal law officers who tried to help local law officers maintain control of isolated towns in the West in the 1800s vigilante groups: groups of people who are not law officers that try to capture and punish criminals as they see fit saloons: places that offered alcoholic drinks, gambling, and music in the towns of the West Wild West Shows: shows where people acted out skits and performed by sharpshooting, lassoing, and doing stunts on horses contortionist: a performer who twists his or her body into unusual positions Rodeos: sporting events where people competed in different horseback riding and cattle roping competitions boomtown: towns that developed in the West very quickly and experienced a great increase in population over a small amount of time because they were close to a natural resource that people wanted or needed Mining town: a boomtown that sprung up next to a place were gold, silver, or other minerals were discovered Cattle town: a town were cowboys and ranchers drove cattle to load them on trains to be shipped Railroad towns: towns that were loading and unloading places for passengers and freight freight: any good or product carried by trains ghost towns: a deserted boomtown that people have left because the resource that they were in search of is all gone metropolises: very large or important cities architect: a person who designs buildings and advises in their construction engineer: a person who has scientific training and who designs and builds complicated products, machines, systems, or structures developer: a person or company that builds and sells houses or other buildings on a piece of land investing obstacle: something that makes it difficult to accomplish a goal assimilate: to adopt the ways of another culture and fully become part of a different society relocate: to move to a different location or place annihilate: to kill off or destroy something entirely Unit ResourcesUnit 2 Games & Simulations
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They Went to Build the Railroads
A transcontinental railroad is a railroad that crosses over an entire continent. In the 1860s, the United States began constructing its first Transcontinental Railroad. When it was completed, the Transcontinental Railroad stretched from the East Coast of the United States to the West Coast. No longer would people travel in long wagon trains that took months to reach California. They could now travel faster, safer, and cheaper by train. In addition to people, things like mail, supplies, and trade goods could now be shipped across the country in just a few days. The railroad was built between 1863 and 1869 by two railroad companies who raced to see which could lay the most track the fastest.
They Went for New Technology
During the 1800s and early 1900s there were many new technologies created to help save time and make life easier. Many of these technologies were developed in the fields of transportation and communication. New inventions like the the steam locomotives, steamboats, the streetcar, and Pullman railcars changed the way people traveled. New innovations in construction and infrastructure allowed builders to construct canals, turnpikes, and tunnels through rocky, mountainous terrain. The telegraph and Morse Code vastly improved communication. It allowed people to communicate over long distance in just a short amount of time. The telegraph eventually led to the invention of the telephone. Inventions such as the mechanical reaper, dynamite, sewing machine, and fountain pen were inventions that helped people perform their jobs faster. Blue jeans, rayon, and zippers were inventions that changed the way we dressed. These were only a few of many inventions that changed life for Americans and made moving to, traveling to, communicating with, and living in the West easier.
They Went for New Opportunities
People also moved to the West for new opportunities. Many different types of people wanted many different things. Some of these people were emigrants. These people moved West from the Northeastern or Southern United States. Others were immigrants. These people moved from other countries to the Western United States. Whether they were emigrants or immigrants they all came for a chance to have a better life.
Missionaries went West to spread Christianity. African Americans went West to escape slavery or to start new lives. Criminals went to escape their past. Farmers went West for opportunities to own their own land and make their own money. Businessmen and tradesmen went to establish new businesses and industries in railroads, cattle, logging, and mining. Merchants went for a chance to open their own stores. Some people moved to get jobs constructing these new businesses and working in these industries. Some people went to make a living robbing from these new businesses and industries. Young men went for adventure, taking jobs as trail guides, Pony Express Riders, cowboys, gamblers, and lawmen. Women went for opportunities to do jobs that they were not allowed to do in the East, like practicing law, medicine, and owning businesses. Some actors, entertainers, artists, and musicians went to bring culture and entertainment to the untamed West. Finally, journalists, photographers, and authors went West to document it all.
Missionaries went West to spread Christianity. African Americans went West to escape slavery or to start new lives. Criminals went to escape their past. Farmers went West for opportunities to own their own land and make their own money. Businessmen and tradesmen went to establish new businesses and industries in railroads, cattle, logging, and mining. Merchants went for a chance to open their own stores. Some people moved to get jobs constructing these new businesses and working in these industries. Some people went to make a living robbing from these new businesses and industries. Young men went for adventure, taking jobs as trail guides, Pony Express Riders, cowboys, gamblers, and lawmen. Women went for opportunities to do jobs that they were not allowed to do in the East, like practicing law, medicine, and owning businesses. Some actors, entertainers, artists, and musicians went to bring culture and entertainment to the untamed West. Finally, journalists, photographers, and authors went West to document it all.
They Went to Be Cowboys
Cattle ranching began before the Civil War, but it did not make very much money because there was not enough people interested in buying beef. By the end of the Civil War however, railroads had expanded westward. These railroads led to the birth of the cattle industry. Ranchers went west to begin cattle ranches. Ranchers hired cowboys to gather the cattle from the range in south Texas and drive them to cities in Kansas where the railroads had reached. Cowboys played an important role in the settling of the west. Ranching was a big industry and cowboys helped to run the ranches. They herded cattle, repaired fences and buildings, took care of the horses, and led cattle drives. Cowboys started their very own culture. They had a cowboy code for behaving, wore a certain type of clothes, developed their own sports for entertainment, and developed their own form of music.
They Went to Bring Law and Order
Lawmen were desperately needed in the West, especially in cattle and mining towns. Local law officers struggled to maintain law in order in these isolated areas of the West. Many places did not even have local law enforcement. So, U.S. Marshals tried to help local law officers bring criminals to justice and keep law in order in the West. Because the West was not very populated, it was easy for criminals to get away and hard for town law enforcers to catch them. In reality, many U.S. Marshals and Deputies died trying to maintain law and order in the Wild West. Eventually crime became so bad, vigilante groups formed to bring criminals to justice. Over the years, tall tales emerged that combined the stories of U.S. Marshals and vigilante lawmen. These are the legends we know today of the Wild West.
They Went West to Build Cities
During the 1800s and early 1900s the West became more and more populated. Many towns and cities began to develop in the West very quickly and experienced a great increase in population over a small amount of time. These towns were called boomtowns. Most boomtowns popped up because they were near a natural resource that people wanted or needed. Mining towns were boomtowns that developed next to areas where gold, silver, or other minerals were discovered. Cattle towns were towns were cowboys and ranchers drove cattle to load them on trains to be shipped. Railroad towns were towns that were loading and unloading places for passengers and freight.
Some boomtowns became ghost towns just as quickly as they had popped up. Ghost towns are deserted towns where nothing is left but the buildings. Usually, boomtowns became ghost towns when the resource that had attracted people to the town was gone. Boomtowns like Bodie, California and Tombstone, Arizona became ghost towns after people mined all of the gold and silver there.
Other towns, like Deadwood, South Dakota continued to flourish. Some towns grew into big cities. Salt Lake City, Utah and Las Vegas Nevada both became thriving metropolises. Soon, architects, engineers, and developers began working to make these cities easier to travel through and better to live in. A good example of this is the city of San Francisco, California. Some towns died out and some became urban centers - a town's survival depended on the availability of natural resources and developers who were willing to take a chance on investing money.
Some boomtowns became ghost towns just as quickly as they had popped up. Ghost towns are deserted towns where nothing is left but the buildings. Usually, boomtowns became ghost towns when the resource that had attracted people to the town was gone. Boomtowns like Bodie, California and Tombstone, Arizona became ghost towns after people mined all of the gold and silver there.
Other towns, like Deadwood, South Dakota continued to flourish. Some towns grew into big cities. Salt Lake City, Utah and Las Vegas Nevada both became thriving metropolises. Soon, architects, engineers, and developers began working to make these cities easier to travel through and better to live in. A good example of this is the city of San Francisco, California. Some towns died out and some became urban centers - a town's survival depended on the availability of natural resources and developers who were willing to take a chance on investing money.
They Went to Be Entertainers
As people moved West, different forms of entertainment developed. Saloons were a common form of entertainment in mining and cattle towns. In saloons there was music, drinking, and gambling. Towns with saloons often had a high crime rate. Wild West Shows were another type of entertainment that developed. Wild West Shows were shows where people acted out skits and performed by sharpshooting, lassoing, and doing stunts on horses. Circuses also became popular in the West. Circuses were usually performed under tents and featured acrobats, contortionist, animal tamers, snake handlers, fortune tellers, and freaks. Traveling theater was one of the most popular forms of entertainment. Actors traveled from town to town to perform the classics as well as new plays. Rodeos were another form of popular entertainment. Rodeos were sporting events where people competed in different horseback riding and cattle roping competitions. It was made popular by cowboys. Though the West was a difficult place to make a living, it did not lack entertainment.
They Went to Deal With Native Americans
One of the largest problems of the West was the conflict between settlers and Native Americans. Native Americans had lived on the land for hundreds of years before the first European ever stepped foot on the North American continent. Even so, settlers felt that Native Americans were the major obstacle in achieving manifest destiny. Many people had different ideas about how to handle this, "problem." In the end, there were three major reasons people came to the West to help "deal" with Native Americans. The people who moved west the deal with Native Americans came to assimilate, relocate, or annihilate them.
Guided Reading Questions
Answer the following questions in your lesson chronicles using PQA format.
- What groups of people moved West during Westward Expansion?
- What was each group's motivation for moving to the West?
- What were some of the things these groups of people experienced as they moved out West?
- What did many Americans feel was the major obstacle in achieving Manifest Destiny? Why do you think they felt this way?
SMALL GROUP ACTIVITY
Answering Questions Completely
DIRECTIONS: In this activity, you will work with your small group answer a compound question. To do this, you will fill out a graphic organizer. Then you will use the organizer to construct a complete and correct answer to the compound question.
You will answer this compound question in your small groups.
You will answer this compound question in your small groups.
What groups moved Westward in the 1800s and early 1900s? Why did these people move to the West?
To do this, you will work backwards. You see each of the 13 reasons for moving West are in the headers of the reading. You will record these in the left column. Find which groups of people came for the reason listed in the paragraph below each header. In the right column, record the groups of people who went West for this reason. Finally, as a group, work to write one, "Great Answer." This will not be a short answer. It will be long! When you fully answer a question, it will not be done in one sentence.
Speaking of sentences... Of course, all answers will need to be in PQA.
Speaking of sentences... Of course, all answers will need to be in PQA.
ATTENTION SLACKERS!
Do not think you will just let the over achievers do all the work. I will be monitoring you and will choose people to present what you have written. I will be asking YOU questions in whole group discussion. Everyone must participate!
INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY
Lesson Chronicles - Answering the Essential Question
A Lesson Chronicles Activity is an individual activity where you prove that you accomplished the lesson mission. Lesson Chronicles require you to keep a notebook or journal with a table of contents. Each entry should be dated. First, you write the lesson mission. Then you prove you "can do" whatever the mission says by answering the essential question of the lesson in PQA format. Remember PQA format means "Put the Question in the Answer".
DIRECTIONS: Work by yourself to prove you have completed today's mission successfully by answering the essential question for today.
What groups moved Westward in the 1800s and early 1900s? Why did these people move to the West?
What groups moved Westward in the 1800s and early 1900s? Why did these people move to the West?
Name Date
Lesson Mission: I can answer today's essential question(s).
What groups moved Westward in the 1800s and early 1900s? Why did these people move to the West?
Mission Accomplished:
(Record Your Great Answer from the Small Group Activity Here! I am not giving you the answer this time!)
HOMEWORK
Family Time
Remember, you have homework every night in Social Studies. Your homework is to show your Lesson Chronicles to your family and tell them what you learned today. Not only will this give you quality time with your family but it will help you review for your unit test. Go over your lesson chronicles entry from today everyday to help you study for the Topic Quiz and Unit Test.
END OF TOPIC 7 MODULE
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I can list the reasons that people moved West in the 1800s and early 1900s.
Congratulations! You have completed Topic 7 Module!
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