The idea of Manifest Destiny holds many meanings. For many who moved west, it symbolizes their hopes and dreams. For many of the indigenous people who already inhabited the region, Manifest Destiny brought an end to their way of life. Railroads, trade, and waves of settlers reshaped the physical and natural environment. Manifest Destiny undoubtedly changed the United States, but how should it be remembered? This building block inquiry is designed to help students reflect on westward migration after having already learned about its key themes.
Westward Expansion
The Heart of Social Studies
Inquiries
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The idea of Manifest Destiny holds many meanings. For many who moved west, it symbolizes their hopes and dreams. For many of the indigenous people who already inhabited the region, Manifest Destiny brought an end to their way of life. Railroads, trade, and waves of settlers reshaped the physical and natural environment. Manifest Destiny undoubtedly…
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Westward expansion in the late 1800s and early 1900s had a significant impact on the environment. As settlers moved west, they established new farms and homesteads. To do this, they cleared forests, plowed prairies, diverted water sources, and built railroads. At the time, there were different approaches to how humans should interact with the environment….
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Founded in 1879, the Carlisle Indian Industrial School was the first off-reservation boarding school designed to force indigenous children to adopt the language, customs, and culture of white American society. Tens of thousands of Indian children from over 140 Native tribes who attended the Carlisle School had to cut their hair, wear European-style clothing, speak…
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Manifest Destiny was the belief that the United States was meant to expand across the North American continent. The painting “American Progress” embodied these ideas and has come to symbolize westward migration. The imagery and symbolism within the painting provide students with an idealized visual representation of the many groups who moved west in search…