Land Grabbing Westward expansion after the Civil War Sarah Brynaert October 2008

Land Grabbing Grade Level: 9-12 Content: Western American History Unit: The American West after the Civil War

Land Grabbing Objectives: Identify reasons for westward expansion Analyze the concepts of assimilation and stereotypes in relation to the American West Explain reasons for near destruction of Native American societies in the American West

Land Grabbing CIVIL WAR Fought between the North and South After the Civil War was a period known as Reconstruction Many people were displaced or in poverty as a result of the conflict As industrialism and big business expanded, so did US territory US Government encouraged citizens to move west

Land Grabbing: Engage You will receive a card which has a symbol on one side and a list of words on the back Please find people with the same symbol as you. This will be your group

Land Grabbing: Engage On the back of each of your cards, there is a list of words The list of words will be used to complete the graphic organizer Each student should read the word out loud in their groups and discuss where the word belongs in the chart. After categorizing the words on the back of the card add other words which relate to the graphic organizer

Native AmericansMinersRanchersFarmers On the back of each of your cards is a list of words. Please categorize and write each word where you think it should belong in the chart below. When you are finished categorizing the words on the back of your cards, please discuss and list other words which relate to the chart below. Land Grabbing: Graphic Organizer

Land Grabbing: Purpose The purpose of this lesson is to evaluate reasons for westward expansion. This lesson will also show you the near destruction of Native Americans and their culture during this time.

Land Grabbing: Purpose Can anyone tell me what they know about the American West after the Civil War? Why did Americans move westward? What natural resources were available? What is going on in the west at this time?

Land Grabbing: Explore This next portion of the lesson will be used to play a game Split your group into 3 teams You will work together to make decisions people of the time period made

Land Grabbing: Explore Background Information Many people in the country were displaced as a result of the Civil War Some people sought alternative options for their lifestyles, some chose to move west Your team will start with 20 token You will have to make decisions and purchases using your tokens

Land Grabbing: Explore Situation Card: You will play this game by picking “Situation Cards” Each situation you will have to make a decision

Land Grabbing: Explore Play “Land Grabbing”

Land Grabbing: Explain Return to your Graphic Organizer from the explore portion of the lesson Revisit the terms, would you change anything?

Native AmericansMinersRanchersFarmers ReservationsPlacer MiningSpursBonanza Farms BuffaloMining TownBuffaloSoddie NomadsMineralsCow TownHomestead Act Hydraulic PumpsCowboyHomesteaders Shallow PanDawes Act On the back of each of your cards is a list of words. Please categorize and write each word where you think it should belong in the chart below. When you are finished categorizing the words on the back of your cards, please discuss and list other words which relate to the chart below. Land Grabbing: Explain

Reaction to the game “Land Grabbing”?

Land Grabbing: Explain Draw a picture of what you thought your character looked like, what they wore and list their behaviors

Land Grabbing: Explain Turn to neighbor who has a different character than you Give your neighbor a brief summary of their character situations and explain the drawing. Raise you hand if you drew a… Woman Native American Mexican African American Child Chinese Japanese Immigrant

Land Grabbing: Explain Most stories from the West supported stereotypes about men Young men could find freedom and opportunity Resist the forces of civilization that had made easterners soft Toughened the bodies and souls of young men Stereotype is a fixed conception held by people about others.

Land Grabbing: Explain However, there were more than just white men in the west Women also traveled west Chinese, African American, Japanese and other immigrants moved west There were many African American and Mexican cowhands

Land Grabbing: Explain The move west nearly destroyed Native Americans and their cultures

Land Grabbing: Explain The United States tried to assimilate Native Americans into the American culture through Native American Boarding Schools Assimilation is the process by which people of one culture merge into and become part of another culture Share some accounts with students

Land Grabbing: Elaborate Please react to the following: The common schools are the stomachs of the country in which all people that come to us are assimilated within a generation. When a lion eats an ox, the lion does not become an ox but the ox becomes a lion." … Henry Ward Beecher*

Land Grabbing: Elaborate Write a journal entry as if you were a Native American student in a boarding school.

Land Grabbing: Closure You should draw conclusions about the American westward expansion after the Civil War. Why did people move west after the Civil War? What resources were available and what occupations did people choose? Describe the concepts of stereotype and assimilation? What were the population dynamics of the American West? How did Americans attempt to assimilate Native Americans into their culture? Can you see assimilation in other parts of history or in current events today?

Land Grabbing: Evaluate You will make a flip book including key words, ideas and examples. Pg 1: The American West after the Civil War Pg 2: Native Americans Pg 3: Miners Pg 4: Ranchers Pg 5: Farmers Pg 6: Assimilation and Stereotypes Use information from the entire lesson to finish this flipbook