EpisodE 3: WEstWard

EPISODE 3: WESTWARD

INTRODUCTION

After the Treaty of Paris is signed in 1783 and the new American

nation is born, a vast continent lies to the west of the mountains,

waiting to be explored. This land is not empty – Native American

Indians are spread across the land mass, as are Spanish colonists

and French explorers.

The conquest of the West by pioneers and trailblazers is a story

marked by courage and hardship. Armed with knowledge from

hardened mountain men like Jedediah Smith, millions of Americans

keep heading westward in the hopes of claiming lands and ﬁnding

prosperity.

Their journeys by wagon train are fraught with danger, but the allure

of adventure, opportunity and economic gain is strong. While some

struggle to create new lives on the frontier, others are rewarded with

riches as hundreds of thousands of people rush to mine California’s

gold in the mid-19th century.

America now stretches from “sea to shining sea.” The consequences

for Native Americans on the plains are severe.

TERMS TO KNOW:

Before or after watching this episode,

encourage students to deﬁne and

review the terms below. Students

may also want to make their own

lists of new vocabulary words and

identiﬁcation terms as they watch.

Commodity

Convulsion

Cumberland Gap

Decree

Exploits

Frontier

Keelboat

Toil

Uncharted

America The Story of Us is useful for American

History, Social Studies, and Media courses. It is

appropriate for 7th grade students and above,

and is an excellent resource for professional

development.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. How would you describe Jedediah Smith? What do you think were his most

important characteristics?

2. Who was Susannah Dickinson, and what role did she play in the Alamo conﬂict?

3. What was the signiﬁcance of Daniel Boone’s clearing of the Cumberland Gap?

How do you think this aected the Shawnee Indians and other native groups?

4. How did the Louisiana Purchase change the United States? Why was Thomas

Jeerson eager for Lewis and Clark to explore the West?

5. What were the most important items for trade during the time period

covered in this episode? Why do you think those items had value?

AMERICA THE STORY OF US Episode 3: Westward

1. What are some of the notable things Smith describes in

this entry?

2. Based on this reading, how would you describe Smith’s

personality?

FROM JEDEDIAH SMITH’S JOURNAL

SECOND EXPEDITION TO CALIFORNIA

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Primary Source:

Jul 1827 –

Jul 1828

20th I went with the Trappers within a mile of the

place where I struck the river on the last Apl. Above

that there was no Beaver sign but considerable from the

camp up to that place.

I saw some indians on the opposite side of the river

but they ran off. The river was quite rapid and the

rushing of the water brought fresh to my remembrance

the cascades of Mt. Joseph and the unpleasant times I

had passed there when surrounded by the snow which

continued falling.

My horses freezing, my men discouraged and our

utmost exertion necessary to keep from freezing to

death. I then thought of the vanity of riches and of all

those objects that lead men in the perilous paths of

adventure.

It seems that in times like those men return to

reason and make the true estimate of things. They throw

by the gaudy baubles of ambition and embrace the solid

comforts of domestic life. But a few days of rest

makes the sailor forget the storm and embark again on

the perilous Ocean and I suppose that like him I would

soon become weary of rest.

FURTHER EXPLORATIONS:

What else was going on during this time

period? Educators and students can

explore the sites below to learn more

about the era of U.S. history covered in

this episode.

The War of 1812 and the Star-Spangled

Banner

http://americanhistory.si.edu/

starspangledbanner

The Second Great Awakening and links

about this era

http://memory.loc.gov/learn//

collections/faw/history8.html

Andrew Jackson and the Bank Veto

www.neh.gov/news/

humanities/2008-01/

KingAndrewandtheBank.html

PLACES TO VISIT:

Interested in what you saw in this

episode? Visiting historic sites is a great

way for teachers, students, and families

to learn more about the past. Explore

these historic sites, or look for local

historic sites in your town or city to visit.

The Alamo

www.nps.gov/history/nR/travel/tx/

tx29.htm

The Tall Grass Prairie National Preserve

www.nps.gov/tapr/index.htm

The Cumberland Gap

www.nps.gov/cuga/index.htm

AMERICA THE STORY OF US Episode 3: Westward