This Story Map Journal focuses on westward expansion of the young United States during the 1800s by using online GIS technology and Library of Congress primary sources. Students will be able to: Visually identify the large territorial acquisitions of the continental United States. Demonstrate knowledge of how each territorial acquisition occurred. Key questions: How did the rapid expansion of the United States in the 1800s shape the United States today? Where and why did the United States expand during the 1800s? Contains links to student materials and teacher materials for creating lesson plans.

This lesson presents documents pertaining to the treaty that brought an official end to the Mexican-American War. Materials for teachers and links to other resources accompany the documents.

The purpose of this lesson is to help students understand how new technologies, innovations, and government policies led to a new wave of internal and international migration and growth which was positive for some although it resulted in more displacement for American Indians.

This activity allows for analyis of the painting "American Progress" by John Gast. This activity can be used before Manifest Destiny is taught or after.