United States Studies to 1865
Political Cartoon Depicting the Issue of Slavery and Westward Expansion dividing the country.
The student will demonstrate an understanding of westward expansion of the United States and its impact on the institution of slavery.
Enduring Understanding
The new century saw the United States transformed by exponential growth through land acquisitions in the West. This expansion resulted in harm to Native Americans and continued the debate on the “peculiar institution” of slavery. To understand the impact of westward expansion on the United States as a whole, the student will utilize the knowledge and skills set forth in the following primary documents:
Dred Scott decision (transcript)
Kansas-Nebraska Act Westward Expansion