1. AGENDA Tests The West Please appreciate my Tshirt
Homework: study guide is OPTIONAL extra credit – one free 100 for a daily grade
(you still need to read the chapter though; quiz next Friday)

2. AGENDA The West! The good old West. Let’s talk about it today
***we’re going back in time now. We’re going back to post-Civil War world. The late s. Get in the right mindset
Let’s leave that old unit behind!

3. MYTH OF THE AMERICAN WEST

4. Warm up:
In your notes, draw a picture of whatever comes to mind when you think of ‘the West’
Be specific! I’m going to give you four minutes. Draw the WHOLE time.

5. THE WEST What did you include? Why?
What are your preconceived notions about the West? How is it stereotyped?

6. THE WEST Why do we idealize the American West?
Historical context: what was just happening in the world?
Civil War
Everyone died
Industrialization is dirty
What does the West promise?
We’re going to look at paintings today to get an understanding of the myth v the reality of the west.

7. “American Progress” – John Gast
Analyze it. What do we see?
“American Progress” – John Gast

8. “For Supremacy” – Charles Russell

9. “Are You Calling Me A Liar” - Koerner

10. “The Lady Wins” - Wyeth

11. “Gathering of the Herds” – William Hayes

12. “Wind River” - Bierstadt

13. POINT OF VIEW OF THE ARTISTS
A lot of them never traveled West. What does this tell us?

14. closure
What is the myth of the West? Think about people (women, natives, cowboys) and the landscape.
Why did this myth exist?

15. The AMERICAN WEST: MYTH V. REALITY
Hand out the two contrasting views of the west
The AMERICAN WEST: MYTH V. REALITY
What was the West really like?

16. The reality of the west…
Reality of the wesdt.
Notice the lack of men in this photo – students might speculate this is an extended family (three adult women – one wife and two sisters, possibly?) or speculate that at least one of the adult woman is widowed. In contrast to the painting, this photo suggests that women were active participants in the process of western settlement. Also notice the man is caring for children is this photo (note the child in his lap).
Unlike the painting, this photograph portrays much of the hardship experienced during the journey west – harsh physical environment, reliance on resources (horse power, integrity of wagons, food, etc…). Students may also speculate that this encouraged cooperation within and among groups of settlers (division of labor, security, etc…).
The reality of the west…

17. HOMEWORK: Write a thesis statement that answers the following prompt:
To what extent is Jonathan Gast’s “American Progress” an accurate depiction of ‘the West’?