Unit 5: Expansion & Its Costs

Weeks 24–27 · 1801–1850

What drove the nation westward, and who paid the price?
Signature project: Layered map investigation — students build a map in layers (land, people, treaties, removal) and use it to argue what expansion actually cost.

Activities & Games

Lewis & Clark Follow Lewis and Clark’s Journey of Discovery. A massive land purchase doubled the country — and set an expedition in motion. Louisiana Purchase Corps of Discovery In 1803, President Jefferson bought a huge stretch of land from France for about 15 million dollars — roughly doubling the size of the country. Jefferson’s hand-picked team, sent to explore the new land, map it, and meet the Native nations already living there.

Readings

Middle School