Westward Expansion and the Dawes Act
7th Grade History

Students will demonstrate an understanding of how the settlement of the West transformed the United States.

Each student will be assigned to one of the following groups:

1. Farmers/Homesteaders

2. Ranchers

3. Miners

4. Exodusters

5. Native Americans

Working cooperatively in groups, each person will complete a graphic organizer in order to develop perspective on their particular western group.

Students will become familiar with:
                                        The Dawes Act of 1887.

Internet Resources:

• Photographs
       - Central Pacific Railroad
  
       - The American West
  

• Maps
      - Western Movement Map Analysis
  
      - Transcontinental Railroad
  

• Primary Documents
      - Letters from Miners
  
      - Fort Laramie Treaty
        Articles of a Treaty
  
        1868 Treaty Text and Map
  
      - Homestead Act
        Text and Summary
  
        Homestead Genealogy Links
  
  - Dawes Act
     Provisions of the Act and Analysis
  
     History of the Act
  

• Captain Sutter's Account

Persuasive Essay Lesson

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