Westward Expansion

Following the Civil War, the westward movement of settlers intensified in the vast region between the Mississippi River and the Pacific Ocean. In search of better opportunities, settlers used the railroad to travel to western lands. The settlers lived on and farmed land provided to them by the Homestead Act of 1862. Many settlers became cowboys as the demand for beef increased. The act of cattle farming was not without its negative consequences. American Indians resisted being forced off of their lands which resulted in several bloody confrontations.

In other areas of the United States, cities experienced an influx of immigrants looking for work. Many who lived in larger cities lived in poverty. In order to accommodate the growing population of cities, public services had to be created. In this topic, join Martina and Terrance as they and travel to some major cities in the West, and learn how America grew and expanded after the Civil War.

Essential Questions

• What factors contributed to westward migration after the Civil War?
• How did new technologies impact settlement and farming in the West?
• How did the government’s policies affect the lives of American Indians?