Westward+Expansion+(Manifest+Destiny)+Matthew+Hadlock

**US History ** **Matthew Hadlock **
 * Book List – America’s Westward Expansion **

I co-teach a US History course for high school sophomores. We will begin a unit on the Westward Expansion (Manifest Destiny) of the United States in the 1800’s. The students will do final projects highlighting a particular aspect of this time period. There are many, many different parts that they can choose from. With this selection of non-fiction trade books, I have tried to offer a variety of topics and reading levels.

This includes everything from decisions made in Washington, DC to make the Louisiana Purchase to the perspective of Native Americans on this expansion. Who were the major figures of that time? Sam Houston. Thomas Jefferson. Lewis and Clark. What conflicts did the US go through to gain territory? War with Mexico. How were the character of certain states influenced by this westward movement? California Gold Rush and the Mormon settlement of Utah.

I’ve also included one book which contains a lot of primary source material. While that will probably be difficult for many of the students, I know that in the Social Studies Department they do try to include these materials as part of their curriculum familiarize students with them.


 * Books **

Raum, Elizabeth. (2013). //Expanding a Nation: Causes and Effects of the Louisiana Purchase.// Capstone Press. (770L)

Friedman, Mel. (2010). //The California Gold Rush //. True Books. (900L)

Perritano, John. (2010). //The Transcontinental Railroad//. Childrens Press. (910L)

Fritz, Jean. (1998). //Make Way for Sam Houston (Unforgettable Americans). // Putnam & Grosset Group. (1010L)

Musolf, Nell. (2012). //The Split History of Westward Expansion in the United States: A Perspectives Flip Book//. Compass Point Books. (1030L)

Ambrose, Stephen. (1997). //Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West.// Simon & Schuster. (1190L)

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Philbrick, Nathaniel. (2011). //The Last Stand: Custer, Sitting Bull, and the Battle of the Little Bighorn.// Penguin Books. (Reading Grade Level 11)

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Greenberg, Amy. (2013). //A Wicked War: Polk, Clay, Lincoln, and the 1846 U.S. Invasion of Mexico.// (Grade Level 12)

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Greenberg, Amy. (2011). //Manifest Destiny and American Territorial Expansion: A Brief History with Documents.// Bedford/St. Martin's Press. (Primary Source Materials)

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Wallace Stegner. (1992). //<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Gathering of Zion: The Story of the Mormon Trail. //<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Bison Books. (I couldn't find a reading level.)

Torr, James D, book editor. (2003). //Westward Expansion//. Greenhaven Press. This uses primary source materials, including letters and magazine articles of the time, to examine the exploration and conquest of the American West by explorers and setters of European descent. (Contributed by Connie Mueller)


 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Websites **

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">[] <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">(Many links to all aspect of American History)

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">[] <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">(Website connected to History Channel – many good little videos and readings)

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">[] <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">(Smithsonian’s history website)

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">[] <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">(website devoted to Lewis and Clark’s expedition)

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">[] <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">(PBS website for Manifest Destiny)

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">[] <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">(Digital History website – good links to a variety of topics)