Westward+Expansion

toc =GLCEs for this Unit= U4.2 Regional and Economic Growth: Describe and analyze the nature and impact of the territorial, demographic, and economic growth in the first three decades of the new nation using maps, charts, and other evidence.
 * __// U4.2.1 //__// Comparing Northeast and the South – Compare and contrast the social and economic systems of the Northeast and the South with respect to geography and climate and the development of //
 * // agriculture, including changes in productivity, technology, supply and demand, and price (E1.3,1.4) //
 * // industry, including entrepreneurial development of new industries, such as textiles (E1.1) //
 * // the labor force including labor incentives and changes in labor forces (E1.2) //
 * // transportation including changes in transportation (steamboats and canal barges) and impact on economic markets and prices (E1.2,1.3) //
 * // immigration and the growth of nativism //
 * // race relations //
 * // class relations //

=Introduction= As the United States emerged into the 19th century (the 1800s), opportunities for growth presented themselves. These opportunities came as a result of foreign conflicts as well as through national desires. One of the key ideas during this era is that of //**manifest destiny**//. This was the idea that permeated popular culture during the first half of the 1800s. It promoted the belief that the United States was destined to grow and stretch across the continent and that growth was manifested in the events that were occurring.
 * __// U4.2.2 //__// The Institution of Slavery – Explain the ideology of the institution of slavery, its policies, and consequences. //
 * __// U4.2.3 //__// Westward Expansion – Explain the expansion, conquest, and settlement of the West through the Louisiana Purchase, the removal of American Indians (Trail of Tears) from their native lands, the growth of a system of commercial agriculture, the Mexican-American War, and the idea of Manifest Destiny. (E2.1) //
 * __// U4.2.4 //__// Consequences of Expansion – Develop an argument based on evidence about the positive and negative consequences of territorial and economic expansion on American Indians, the institution of slavery, and the relations between free and slaveholding states. (C2) //

Mapping Westward Expansion
In order to begin this unit correctly, we will use a mapping exercise for establishing a visual sense of U.S. expansion.

The Northwest Ordinance
In a letter dated July 14, 1787, Richard Henry Lee, serving on the Continental Congress, wrote to his brother about the recent passage of the Northwest Ordinance. The full text is available here: Richard Henry Lee on the Northwest Ordinance





Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition
media type="custom" key="25364078" Interesting Excerpt from the Journal of Captain Lewis

Florida Purchase
Excerpt of a letter from Andrew Jackson to his wife Rachel, January 25, 1819

//"My Love,

I reached here at five oclock on the morning of the 23d. Instant, somewhat fatigued, but my health in nowise impaired, the excitement of mind from the [inserted: conduct of a] combination in the house of Congress, to wound my feelings and thereby reach the President of the U States, kept me up - in this combination I found Mr Clay of Kentucky, who had on the day preceeding my arival delivered a very lengthy, & in flamatory speech on the subject - my arival has been in good time, I am well defended on the floor of Congress, & I am this moment advised con fidential, that Mr Jefferson & Mr Madison, has both wrote to Mr Monroe, fully approving of my conduct, & his, in his full approbation of my conduct - This will put down my enemies compleatly - I am told I will have in my favour a very large majority on the floor of Congress... "//

The Reign of Andrew Jackson