1. Westward Expansion Planning
4th Grade

2. When do I go west?
• Louisiana Purchase
– When did this happen?
– Who owned the land? What areas of the US did it
cover?
– How much did it cost?
– How did this purchase impact the growth of our
country?
– What opportunities arose from this purchase?

3. When do I go west?
• Lewis and Clark
– Who were they and why were they chosen to
explore the west?
– Who and what did they take with them?
– What challenges did they face along the way?
– What did they discover?
– Did their exploration impact expansion? Why/Why
not?

4. Why do I go west?
• What were the reasons for going west?
• What were people looking for?
• What were the benefits and drawbacks for
going west?

5. How do I go west?
• The Trails
– Why were there many trails going west?
– What were the different purposes of each trail?
– How did the trails get their names?
– Who mapped out the trails?

6. How do I go west?
• Wagon trains and supplies
– What is a wagon train? Why would you want to
join one?
– What were the benefits and drawbacks to
traveling in a wagon train?
– Are there any well known trains that traveled on
the Oregon trail?
– What types of wagons were used and why?
– What supplies were ESSENTIAL for travel?

7. How do I go west?
• Landmarks and maps
– List and describe at least 10 famous landmarks
(natural/man made) along the Oregon Trail.
– Why were landmarks important?
– What did a map look like at that time and how did
you get one?

8. Who and what affected my travel?
• Frontier Life on the trail
– What skills would you need to make the trip west?
– Describe the daily life on the trail
– How did the travelers find entertainment along
the trail?

9. Who and what affected my travel?
• Native Americans
– What did the Native Americans teach the pioneers
who traveled along the trail?
– How do you think the Native Americans felt during
this time?

10. Who and what affected my travel?
• Hardships
– Diseases
– Terrain
– Starvation/thirst
– People
– Weather