Life in the West

Life in the West

In order to learn about what life was like for the different groups that went West in the 1800's, students will be creating mini-dramas. The first step in this project involves each student group reading about the group of settlers they have been assigned and finding out why they moved West, the hardships they faced, and the legacies that they left.

Happy 200th Birthday Abraham Lincoln!

Manifest Destiny: A Review

**For extra credit, post a response answering this question: Which lands would you say were acquired in an honorable way and which ones weren't? Explain your answer.**


Here is the video "Elbow Room" from Schoolhouse Rocks:


Three of the major acquisitions that we discussed in class (Texas, Oregon, and the Mexican Cession) took place during the Presidency of James K. Polk. Here is a fun song about his term in office written by the band They Might Be Giants.



Lyrics:
In 1844, the Democrats were split
The three nominees for the presidential candidate
Were Martin Van Buren, a former president and an abolitionist
James Buchanan, a moderate
Louis Cass, a general and expansionist
From Nashville came a dark horse riding up
He was James K. Polk, Napoleon of the Stump

Austere, severe, he held few people dear
His oratory filled his foes with fear
The factions soon agreed
He's just the man we need
To bring about victory
Fulfill our manifest destiny
And annex the land the Mexicans command
And when the votes were cast the winner was
Mister James K. Polk, Napoleon of the Stump

In four short years he met his every goal
He seized the whole southwest from Mexico
Made sure the tarriffs fell
And made the English sell the Oregon territory
He built an independent treasury
Having done all this he sought no second term
But precious few have mourned the passing of
Mister James K. Polk, our eleventh president
Young Hickory, Napoleon of the Stump