WESTWARD EXPANSION:  WEBSITES AND SHORT VIDEOS

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General Resources

Ducksters Westward Expansion

Ducksters Westward Expansion Timeline

Have Fun With History Pioneers & Frontier

Have Fun With History American West

History.com Westward Expansion

US History.org

Sparknotes Westward Expansion Section 1

Sparknotes Westward Expansion Section 6

Sparknotes Westward Expansion Section 8 http://mrnussbaum.com/history-2-2/westward-expansion-for-kids/

Applegate Trail

https://oregonhistoryproject.org/narratives/nature-and-history-in-the-klamath-basin/inhabiting-the-land/the-applegate-trail/#.Wfdka4-PLcu

https://oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/applegate_trail/#.WfdkoI-PLct

Billy the Kid

https://www.biography.com/people/billy-the-kid-278971

https://cemeteries.wordpress.com/2007/10/30/billy-the-kids-grave/

http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/9-things-you-may-not-know-about-billy-the-kid

https://www.ducksters.com/history/westward_expansion/famous_gunfighters.php

Boone, Daniel

http://www.danielboonehomestead.org/daniel-boone.html

http://danielboonetrail.com/history/

http://www.ducksters.com/biography/explorers/daniel_boone.php

Bowie, James

https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-Bowie

Bridger, Jim

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/HNS/Mtmen/jimbrid.html

Calamity Jane

http://www.encyclopedia.com/people/history/us-history-biographies/calamity-jane

http://spartacus-educational.com/WWcalamity.htm

https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-calamityjane/

California Trail

https://www.legendsofamerica.com/california-trail/

http://westerly-journeys.com/goldrush/goldsteph-murphy.html

See it yourself:  https://www.nps.gov/cali/index.htm

http://www.californiatrailcenter.org/california-trail-facts/

Carson, Kit

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/kit-carson-born-in-kentucky

http://www.sangres.com/history/kitcarson.htm#.Wfd-jo-PLcs

Cassidy, Butch

https://utah.com/old-west/butch-cassidy

Cattle Drives and Cowboys

http://www.ducksters.com/history/westward_expansion/cowboys.php

Chisholm Trail

https://www.chisholmtrailmuseum.org/

Cody, Buffalo Bill

https://centerofthewest.org/explore/buffalo-bill/

Colter, John

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/HNS/Mtmen/johncol.html

Covered Wagons

http://www.history.com/topics/conestoga-wagon

http://classroom.synonym.com/parts-of-a-covered-wagon-12082074.html

http://www.encyclopedia.com/history/united-states-and-canada/us-history/covered-wagon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdbnriTpg_M

Crockett, Davy

https://www.biography.com/people/davy-crockett-9261693

Cumberland Gap

https://www.nps.gov/cuga/index.htm

Wilderness Road  http://www.history.com/topics/wilderness-road

Doc Holliday

https://www.biography.com/people/doc-holliday-9342122

https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-docholliday/

Donner Party

http://www.donnerpartydiary.com/

http://spartacus-educational.com/WWdonnerP.htm

http://www.history.com/topics/donner-party

Earp, Wyatt

https://www.biography.com/people/wyatt-earp-9283338

https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-wyattearp/

Forts

https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-fortlist/

Gold Rush

http://www.ducksters.com/history/westward_expansion/california_gold_rush.php

https://www.expensivity.com/california-gold-rush-history/  (Thank you Anna!!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iydRkC0gMZI

http://www.havefunwithhistory.com/movies/goldRush2.html

http://www.havefunwithhistory.com/movies/goldRush.html

http://www.calgoldrush.com/

http://www.malakoff.com/goldcountry/maintcgc.htm

http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist2/gold.html

http://www.kidport.com/RefLib/UsaHistory/CalGoldRush/CalGoldRush.htm

http://explore.museumca.org/goldrush/

http://www.history.com/topics/gold-rush-of-1849

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/goldrush/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvuD0LxgTZY (2-hour movie)

Homestead Act

http://ushistoryscene.com/article/1862-homestead-act/

https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/may-20

http://www.ducksters.com/history/westward_expansion/homestead_act_land_rush.php

James, Jesse  http://thepioneerwoman.com/fun-and-learning/twenty-interesting-things-about-jesse-james/

Lewis and Clark

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/

http://www.havefunwithhistory.com/movies/lewisClark.html

http://www.havefunwithhistory.com/movies/lc.html

http://www.ducksters.com/biography/explorers/lewis_and_clark.php

http://www.lewisandclark.org/travel/next-exit-history.php

Longbaugh, Harry (Sundance Kid)

http://spartacus-educational.com/WWsundance.htm

Louisiana Purchase

http://americanhistory.mrdonn.org/louisianapurchase.html

http://www.history.com/topics/westward-expansion/videos/louisiana-purchase-doubles-u-s?m=528e394da93ae&s=undefined&f=1&free=false

http://www.ducksters.com/history/westward_expansion/louisiana_purchase.php

https://www.factmonster.com/encyclopedia/history/united-states-canada-and-greenland/us-history/louisiana-purchase http://www.ducksters.com/history/westward_expansion/louisiana_purchase.php

and Thomas Jefferson  https://www.thoughtco.com/jefferson-and-the-louisiana-purchase-104983

http://mrnussbaum.com/history-2-2/lapurchase/

Manifest Destiny   http://www.history.com/topics/westward-expansion/videos/sound-smart-manifest-destiny?m=528e394da93ae&s=undefined&f=1&free=false

http://mrnussbaum.com/manifest-destiny/

Mining and Ghost Towns

http://westernmininghistory.com/map/

http://digital-desert.com/ghost-towns/

https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ghost-towns/

Missouri Compromise  http://www.history.com/topics/westward-expansion/videos

Mormon Trail

https://www.nps.gov/mopi/learn/historyculture/index.htm

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mormon-Trail

Mountain Men and the Fur Trade

http://montanakids.com/history_and_prehistory/Frontier_Life/trapping.htm

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/HNS/Mtmen/home.html

Native Americans

Sioux and Wounded Knee

http://www.history.com/topics/westward-expansion/videos/the-last-of-the-sioux?m=528e394da93ae&s=undefined&f=1&free=false

Trail of Tears (Cherokee Trail) https://nj.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/akh10.socst.ush.exp.trail/trail-of-tears/#.WfdHZo-PLcs

http://www.aboutnorthgeorgia.com/ang/Cherokee_Trail_of_Tears

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/01/0123_060123_cherokee_dig.html

http://mrnussbaum.com/history-2-2/trail/

Oakley, Annie

http://www.historynet.com/annie-oakley

http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/category/annie-oakley http://www.ducksters.com/history/westward_expansion/annie_oakley.php

Omohundro, Jack

https://centerofthewest.org/explore/buffalo-bill/research/texas-jack/

http://www.ulib.niu.edu/badndp/omohundro_john.html

Oregon Trail

http://www.frontiertrails.com/oldwest/oregontrail.htm

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-thousand-pioneers-head-west-on-the-oregon-trail

http://www.ducksters.com/history/westward_expansion/oregon_trail.php

http://www.octa-trails.org/

Outlaws

https://www.legendsofamerica.com/outlaw-gangs/ http://www.ducksters.com/history/westward_expansion/famous_gunfighters.php

Overland Trail

http://www.over-land.com/otrail.html

Pikes Peak  http://www.pikespeak.us.com/Learn/history.html

http://www.cograilway.com/pikes-peak.asp

Pioneer Life

http://www.ducksters.com/history/westward_expansion/daily_life_on_the_frontier.php

https://hubpages.com/education/pioneer-day

http://exhibits.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/athome/1800/objects/index.html

http://www.factsfornow.scholastic.com/article?product_id=nbk&type=0ta&uid=10676833&id=a2023250-h

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~momonroe/pioneer2.htm

http://classroom.synonym.com/what-were-the-main-causes-of-death-on-the-oregon-trail-12082690.html

http://pioneerlife.tripod.com/

https://library.ndsu.edu/exhibits/pioneer/camera/exhibit.htm

Homesteads

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/frontierhouse/frontierlife/essay4.html

Log cabins  http://www.ducksters.com/history/westward_expansion/log_cabin.php

Laura Ingalls Wilder

http://lauraingallswilderhome.com/ http://littlehouseontheprairie.com/in-search-of-laura-about-laura-ingalls-wilder/

https://www.biography.com/people/laura-ingalls-wilder-9531246

Pony Express

http://www.xphomestation.com/frm-history.html

http://www.xphomestation.com/frm-xpsta.html

http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist1/pxpress.html

http://www.ducksters.com/history/westward_expansion/pony_express.php http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-pony-express

https://www.nps.gov/poex/learn/historyculture/index.htm  

https://about.usps.com/publications/pub100/pub100_013.htm

http://ponyexpress.org/pony-express-historical-timeline/  

Railroads

http://www.cprr.org/

https://www.up.com/aboutup/history/index.htm

https://www.legendsofamerica.com/railroads/

http://www.nprymuseum.org/

http://www.ushistory.org/us/25b.asp

Sacajawea http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0302/feature4/index.html http://www.ducksters.com/biography/explorers/sacagawea.php

http://www.pbs.org/lewisandclark/inside/saca.html

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nwa/sacajawea.html

Santa Fe Trail

http://www.santafetrail.org/the-trail/history/history-of-the-sft/

http://www.santafetrailresearch.com/

Smith, Jedediah

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/HNS/Mtmen/jedesmith.html

Stagecoaches

https://www.wellsfargohistory.com/stagecoach/

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=25066

http://www.over-land.com/ccoachg.html

http://www.over-land.com/ccdriver.html

http://www.over-land.com/horses.html

Starr, Belle

http://www.historynet.com/belle-starr.htm

Transcontinental Railroad  http://www.ducksters.com/history/westward_expansion/first_transcontinental_railroad.php

http://www.havefunwithhistory.com/movies/goldenSpike2.html

http://www.havefunwithhistory.com/movies/goldenSpike.html

http://www.history.com/topics/inventions/transcontinental-railroad

http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist1/rail.html

http://www.tcrr.com/

http://cprr.org/Museum/index.html

Chinese workers  https://vimeo.com/102056330

US - Mexican War  (Mexican American War)

http://www.ducksters.com/history/westward_expansion/mexican-american_war.php

http://www.history.com/topics/mexican-american-war

http://www.dmwv.org/mexwar/history/concise.htm

Wagon Trains

https://www.britannica.com/topic/wagon-train

http://www.historybits.com/west-wagon-trains.htm

HELPFUL SEARCH TERMS AND RESEARCH TIPS

Adapted from Mrs. Strehle, 5th grade teacher, Swarthmore-Rutledge School, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania  (https://www.wssd.org/Page/8567)

• Many search terms overlap.  For instance, if you search “Louisiana Purchase,” you will also find information on Lewis and Clark. For  “Westward Expansion,” also try searching “Manifest Destiny.” For  “Trail of Tears,” you should also search “Indian Removal Act.”
• Search the presidents. Thomas Jefferson was president when he bought the Louisiana Territory and hired Lewis and Clark to explore it. Andrew Jackson ordered the Indian Removal Act. James K. Polk ran for president with the Manifest Destiny platform and provoked Mexico into a war over Texas.
• Some subtopics are very popular and have a lot of information. For instance, under “Lewis and Clark,” you will find a lot of information about Sacagawea; or when researching the US-Mexican War, you will find that the subject of the Alamo is very popular.
• For information about the Oregon Trail, try “Oregon Territory.” You can also search “Wagoneers” or “Homesteaders.”