The belief in manifest destiny prompted Americans to migrate west. In this activity, you will analyze a map, a chart, text information and photography to integrate information about how American migration led to the expansion of the western border to the Pacific Ocean.
Before beginning this activity, download and print the graphic organizer. This will help you analyze the information in each source and integrate this information in order to understand how the United States expanded to the Pacific Ocean.
Westward Migration graphic organizer
As you analyze each source, make a list of the information you find.
To examine a map of westward migration, click on the map to enlarge the areas of the map:
Mappery: American Expansion 1818-1853Opens a new window
To read why Americans migrated west in the 1800s:
Winchester Public Schools: Reasons for Migrating WestOpens a new window
To examine the percentage of people living in each region of the United States:
ElderWeb: U.S. Population by Region, 1790-1990Opens a new window
To examine a photograph of a family traveling westward:
First Regional Library: Journey StoriesOpens a new window
What information did you learn about westward expansion from the map?
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1. In 1818, the United States signed a treaty with Great Britain, gaining land north of the Louisiana Purchase.
2. In 1819, the United States gained Florida from Spain.
3. In 1842, the United States gained land north of Maine from Great Britain.
4. In 1845, Texas was added to the United States.
5. In 1846, the United States gained the Oregon Territory from Great Britain.
6. In 1853, the United States border reached to the Pacific Ocean.
7. In 1853, the United States bought land south of the Mexican Cession from Mexico.
What information did you learn about why people migrated west from the written text?
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1. Missionaries wanted to bring Christianity to Native Americans.
2. Cities in the east were overcrowded.
3. Stories about Oregon caused people to want to move there.
4. Fertile land made farmers want to move west.
5. Loggers moved west because of all the trees.
6. African Americans moved west for their freedom.
7. Gold was discovered in California, creating the gold rush.
8. People started businesses to sell goods to the gold miners.
9. People believed in manifest destiny.
What did you learn about the population shift between 1790 and 1890 from the chart?
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1. People began to move to the south before they began moving to the west.
2. Larger numbers of people began moving westward in 1810.
3. By 1890, 35% of the population lived in the Midwest and about 5% of the population lived in the West. The states that were the original 13 colonies had the largest percentage of the population.
What did you learn about traveling west from the photograph?
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1. Families moved west by wagon.
2. It was dangerous to travel west.
3. Accidents happened on the trails leading west.
