Module 11: A Nation on the Move: Westward Expansion, 1800–1860

Image from Chapter 11 of U.S. History (opens in new window) from OpenStax, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution License v4.0 with the image information: In the first half of the nineteenth century, settlers began to move west of the Mississippi River in large numbers. In John Gast’s American Progress (ca. 1872), the figure of Columbia, representing the United States and the spirit of democracy, makes her way westward, literally bringing light to the darkness as she advances.

This module introduces students to American westward expansion during the first half of the nineteenth century focusing on the Louisiana Purchase and the demographic pressures in the East that led to western migration and the philosophy of Manifest Destiny and its impact on westward expansion, the treatment of Native Americans and Hispanics by American settlers, and the acquisition of Texas and the Southwest from Mexico. The acquisition of new territories and the need for the Compromise of 1850 further showcased the deep divide over the issue of slavery. Students will begin to understand the diverse landscape of America and its lasting impact.

To achieve these objectives: 

1. Read the Module 11 Introduction 
   
2. Read and view the materials in the Module 11 Pressbooks book
   
3. Read Chapter 11 PowerPoint
4. Complete Module 11 quizzes/assignments/discussion boards based on chapter reading and PowerPoint.

Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities