Pre-Revolutionary War
People like Daniel Boone helped contribute to the expansion of America in the years before the Revolutionary War. Here you can learn about the movement to expand the country in the pre-Revolutionary War years.
Mining
Mining is one of the most dangerous jobs and the thought of striking it rich lured many men to hunt for gold underground. In this section, you can learn about the gold rush and major figures associated with the occupation of mining.
Expanding West
The effort to expand the American borders to the Pacific Ocean was met with frequent clashes between the government and the Native Americans who laid claim to the land. Learn more about the West.
- How Lewis and Clark Worked
Lewis and Clark's expedition changed the course of American history. Through their explorations, a new nation found its identity. - Why do we remember the Alamo? The expression "remember the Alamo" is probably something you heard in school. But do you really know what this rallying war cry means?
- Why was Davy Crockett king of the wild frontier? Maybe you've sung along with that well-known tune: "Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier." But have you ever wondered how he earned that royal title?
- How the Donner Party Worked More than 150 years ago, the Donner Party resorted to cannibalism to survive a harsh winter in the California mountains. And we're still fascinated by their story.
- Old Railroads In the early 1800s, the United States witnessed the birth of the railroad industry and along with it, dramatic changes in American society and business. What was life like before and after the railroads?
- Railroad Expansion The railroad expansion of the 1800s changed America forever. By 1900, the people North America had settled a continent that previous generations had thought would take a thousand years to occupy.
- Fur Trading Fur trading was a major factor in the settling of North America; trappers would trap and kill animals for their hides and pelts.
- Gadsen Purchase The Gadsden Purchase was a huge piece of land bought by the United States from Mexico in 1853 for ten million dollars.
- The Mexican War Because of the Mexican War the United States quite a bit of land including the present states of California, Nevada, and Utah, and parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming.
- Northwest Territory An area of territory created in the Northwest around 1787.
- Famous Trails of the West As Americans moved west - they created a variety of trails and paths that are still used today.
- Westward Movement Learn how and why the settling of the Western United States took place; from the Atlantic to Pacific oceans.
- Pioneer & Frontier Life Learn more about what life was like in America between 1776 and 1890.
Map of the West Now...
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Kristiana BurkAtlanta, GA
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Cowboys & Farmers
Cowboys and farmers were two of the most important jobs on the frontier. Here you can learn about major frontier figures, such as Billy the Kid, Wyatt Earp and Johnny Appleseed.
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