Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Follow America’s westward expansion in the 1800s — from the Louisiana Purchase to the Trail of Tears. Discover how pioneers, explorers like Lewis and Clark, and the idea of Manifest Destiny shaped the nation’s growth and identity. Learn about the conflicts, challenges, and triumphs that defined this era, including the spread of slavery, the Missouri Compromise, and the impact on Native American communities.
Elementary lessons from the Bill of Rights Institute are primary source-based, focusing on content-area literacy and performance-based assessments. Designed for grades 3-5, these lessons use a modular approach to help young learners explore American history and citizenship in an engaging, age-appropriate way. Perfect for budding historians curious about how the United States became what it is today!
To view more lesson plans and resources, visit us here:
billofrightsinstitute.org/lessons/expansion
Check out BRI's "Trails West " game that allows students to understand the various groups that moved Westward and the choices they had to make along the way: billofrightsinstitute.org/activities/trails-west-simulation-game
00:00 - 00:15 Welcome Young Historians!
00:16 - 00:46 The Louisiana Purchase & Lewis and Clark Expedition
00:47 - 01:47 Slavery’s Spread and the Missouri Compromise
01:48 - 02:31 Manifest Destiny and Westward Opportunities
02:32 - 03:18 Native American Displacement and the Trail of Tears
03:19 - 03:44 Hardships on the Trail of Tears
03:45 - 04:12 How Westward Expansion Shaped Modern America
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About the Bill of Rights Institute:
Established in September 1999, the Bill of Rights Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization that works to engage, educate, and empower individuals with a passion for the freedom and opportunity that exist in a free society. The Institute develops educational resources and programs for a network of more than 50,000 educators and 70,000 students nationwide.
Official Site: billofrightsinstitute.org
Facebook: / billofrightsinstitute
Twitter: / brinstitute
Instagram: / brinstitute
BRI Educator Newsletter Sign Up Page: https://billofrightsinstitute.org/new...
Follow America’s westward expansion in the 1800s — from the Louisiana Purchase to the Trail of Tears. Discover how pioneers, explorers like Lewis and Clark, and the idea of Manifest Destiny shaped the nation’s growth and identity. Learn about the conflicts, challenges, and triumphs that defined this era, including the spread of slavery, the Missouri Compromise, and the impact on Native American communities.
Elementary lessons from the Bill of Rights Institute are primary source-based, focusing on content-area literacy and performance-based assessments. Designed for grades 3-5, these lessons use a modular approach to help young learners explore American history and citizenship in an engaging, age-appropriate way. Perfect for budding historians curious about how the United States became what it is today!
To view more lesson plans and resources, visit us here:
billofrightsinstitute.org/lessons/expansion
Check out BRI's "Trails West " game that allows students to understand the various groups that moved Westward and the choices they had to make along the way: billofrightsinstitute.org/activities/trails-west-simulation-game
00:00 - 00:15 Welcome Young Historians!
00:16 - 00:46 The Louisiana Purchase & Lewis and Clark Expedition
00:47 - 01:47 Slavery’s Spread and the Missouri Compromise
01:48 - 02:31 Manifest Destiny and Westward Opportunities
02:32 - 03:18 Native American Displacement and the Trail of Tears
03:19 - 03:44 Hardships on the Trail of Tears
03:45 - 04:12 How Westward Expansion Shaped Modern America
-----
About the Bill of Rights Institute:
Established in September 1999, the Bill of Rights Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization that works to engage, educate, and empower individuals with a passion for the freedom and opportunity that exist in a free society. The Institute develops educational resources and programs for a network of more than 50,000 educators and 70,000 students nationwide.
Official Site: billofrightsinstitute.org
Facebook: / billofrightsinstitute
Twitter: / brinstitute
Instagram: / brinstitute
BRI Educator Newsletter Sign Up Page: https://billofrightsinstitute.org/new...
