1. See if you can spot the “Sooners” in this movie clip.
Turnpike Troubadours, Long Hot Summer Day-SONG
Westward Expansion
Starting in the middle of the 19th century, hundreds of thousands of settlers moved westward into and across the Great Plains.
Word of the Day
During the Oklahoma Land Rush, those who waited for the boom of the cannon, were called “boomers,” while those who snuck in the night before were called “sooners.”
Warm Up-
Do you know what the mascot of Oklahoma University is? (see your phone if you don’t)
Homestead Act U.S. Government offered 160 acres to anyone (male/female, black/white) who could settle the land
See if you can spot the “Sooners” in this movie clip.
Far and Away Movie Clip-VIDEO

2. Westward Expansion-Why did Americans Migrate to the West?
Essential Question- Why would people take on the challenges of life in the West?
Westward Expansion-Why did Americans Migrate to the West?

3. 2. Overcrowding in the East
By this time, Eastern cities like New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia had become crowded, dirty, and unhealthy primarily due to the effects of industrialization.
Many urban residents left these cities to seek opportunity in the West.
What is missing from this picture? (what is causing the traffic jam?)
No traffic lights

4. 4. African Americans and Racism in the South
15th Amendment
13th Amendment
4. African Americans and Racism in the South
13th Amendment- Freed Slaves
14th Amendment- Citizenship
15th Amendment- Right to vote: African American Men
Reconstruction ends
Jim Crow Laws- segregate South
Exodusters move West

5. On Your Own…
Use page 90 in the Mastering the TEKS book to answer the bubbles left on the handout
You have 15 minutes to complete this!

6. Settling the Great Plains Affects Americans
What were the negative and positive effects of Americans moving West?

7. Miners Positive Great opportunity/ chance to get rich Negative
Difficult and dangerous work

8. Ranchers and Cowboys Positive Negative Difficult and hazardous work
Plenty of cattle for Cowboys to herd
Demand for beef in East made cattle more valuable
Railroads made transportation easier
Difficult and hazardous work
Stampedes
Indian attacks
Difficult conditions

9. Railroad Owners Positive Negative Financial difficulties
Got millions of acres of free land from government
Made huge profit
Financial difficulties
Conflicts with Natives
Dangerous working conditions

10. Railroad Workers Positive Negative Dangerous working conditions Jobs
money
Dangerous working conditions
Attacked by Natives
Racism

11. American Indians Positive Negative
Some assimilated and became miners and farmers
Pushed off land onto reservations
Food source killed
Loss of cultural heritage

12. Settlers Positive Negative Homestead Act gave free land to farm
Technology modernized production and made work easier
Building shelters with little supplies is hard work
Droughts and dry soils make farming different
Pests destroy crops

13. Process
Look over your notes… which group of people had the BEST positive effects? Place a happy face next to them on your notes.
Which group of people had the MOST negative effect? Circle their name on your notes.
Find an elbow partner and share with them your observations