1. Settling the West

6.  The government passed a law called the Homestead
Act. (see textbook page 298 for explanation of this law)
 The government also gave millions of acres to railroad
companies. The railroad companies wanted more
people to settle on the newly acquired land so they
could get more business.

8.  In this game, you will be placed in the position of
someone traveling west during the 1800s.
 You will begin by choosing a character. Each character
will have a different reason for traveling west.
 You will choose a destination.
 You will choose a mode of transportation. The
character that you choose will affect which
transportation you choose.
 You will be required to research each character,
destination, and mode of transportation before
choosing one.

9.  Will your mode of transportation be correct?
 Will you choose the correct time period?
 Will your description of your character’s journey be
accurate?
In answering these questions, you will be researching a
period in our country’s history known as Westward
Expansion. During this period settlers, explorers, and
prospectors traveled west for many reasons. Your job
will be to learn about this period to get the most
points possible.

10.  Prospector (Gold Rush)
 Settler (Pioneer)
 Mountain Man (fur
trapper)
When you have finished reading
about each character, click
the screen to read about
destinations.

11.  California - People mostly came here in search of gold.
 Oregon Territory – People came here to hunt for furs
and to take advantage of the fertile land and thick
forests.
 The Great Plains – Many people settled here because
the government was giving away land by way of the
Homestead Act.
 The Southwest – This is where Santa Fe was located.
 Click to learn about transportation.

12.  Train (Transcontinental Railroad)
 Boat (keelboats , flatboats, etc.)
 Steamboat
 Wagon
Click to continue

13.  Now that you have read about the characters, destinations,
and transportation, it’s time to choose your character. You
will need to do a little more research on your character
before deciding on a destination and mode of
transportation.
 On your index card, write your name and the character that
you have chosen. Then raise your hand and I will collect
your card. Then you can begin finding more information
about your character so you can make your other choices.
Back to characters

14.  Imagine that you have
sold everything you own
to take a chance on
finding gold. You travel
west for the chance of
finding that chunk of
gold and striking it rich!
Click to learn about the Gold Rush.

15. Click to learn about the Gold Rush.

16.  After its discovery in 1848, gold in California became a
magnet that pulled people from all over the world.
Thousands left their families, jobs, farms and headed
west to strike it rich. Learn more about it by clicking
on the links below:
 All About the Gold Rush
 Gold Fever
 See page 392 in your textbook for more information.
Back to Characters

17.  Mountain men were
hunters and trappers
who worked in the
mountains and beyond.
They lived off the land
and faced many dangers.
Click below to find out
more:
 Mountain Men Page
 American West
Back to characters

18.  Pioneers are the first
settlers of the American
West. They traveled west
because they had hopes
of buying their own land.
 See textbook, ch. 9,
lesson 1 for more
information.
Click to learn about the Pioneers’
destinations.

19.  The pioneers traveled  Back to characters
west for many different
reasons. As result, their
destinations were varied:
 California
 Oregon
 The Great Plains
 New Mexico
 If you choose to be a
pioneer then you will need
to choose your own
destination.

21.  Trains played one the  Completing the
most important roles in Transcontinental RR
settling the West. In
1869, the first
transcontinental railroad
was completed and
millions of people
starting traveling west.
To learn more about
railroads, click the link to
the right. (see page 394
Return to transportation
in your text also)

22.  Because our nation is filled
with countless rivers and
waterways, the steamboat
was a very effective form of
transportation. It allowed
people to travel upstream
much easier.
 See textbook, ch. 8, lesson
3 for more information.
Return to transportation

23.  Flatboats and keelboats
allowed people to avoid the
difficulties of traveling on
land. The vast network of
rivers could take travelers
from the East to the far
West.
 See textbook, ch. 8, lesson
3 for more information.
Return to transportation

24.  Settlers often used
covered wagons to travel
west. At “jumping-off
places” pioneer families
would gather and join up
with a “wagon train”, or a
group of wagons. To
travel by wagon you’ll
need to follow one of the
trails.
Click to see the trails.

25.  The Oregon Trail
 The Santa Fe Trail
 California Trail
Return to transportation