Westward Expansion Web Quest

By John Gast (1872)

Directions
Your search for information will lead you to the answers of questions about the
growth and change in America from 1800-1861. Get ready to find the answers
with the help of the internet sites below.
List the questions in order and use the internet links above the questions
to guide you
Remember to read through the sites carefully and take notes.

Quest Questions
http://members.tripod.com/~jtlawson/index.html
1. Who played key roles in the transaction of the Louisiana Purchase?
2. Why was the purchase so important?
3. Who did Jefferson send to explore the territory?
http://funandsun.com/1tocf/seminole/semhistory.html
4. What does the name Seminole mean?
5. After the Indian Removal Act of 1830, what did the Seminoles do and have
done to them?
6. Describe what happens to the Seminoles in the section entitled further
troubles.
http://www.pbs.org/kera/usmexicanwar/war/wars_end_guadalupe.html
7. How did the United States approach the negotiations with Mexico?
8. How does this treaty continue to affect the United States and Mexico today?
http://www.blm.gov/or/oregontrail/history-faqs.php
9. How many miles was the trail and how many months did it typically take to
travel it?

10. How many pioneers used the Oregon Trail?

11. What was the Donation Land Act of 1850?
12. What were two main causes of death along the trail?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroe_Doctrine
13. What did the Monroe Doctrine state to European powers?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton_gin
14. How does the Cotton Gin work?
15. How did the invention help the South to prosper?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reaper (Read mechanical reapers in the US section)
16. What Virginian invented the reaper?
17. How was it helpful to farmers?
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/fulton.htm
18. What impact did Fultons improved steamboat have on transportation in the
United States?
http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/history/hist-ov/hist-ov2.shtml
19. What four things did the transcontinental railroad do for the country?
http://www.history.com/topics/gold-rush-of-1849
20. Where was the gold found?
21. How was gold discovered in California and who discovered it?
22. Who are the 49ers? Why are they important?
23. How did the Gold Rush affect the population of the area? Explain.