Grades
4-6
Westward
Expansion
Articles and
Activities
Created by : Cutesy Clickables
A Note to the Teacher:
I plan to use these articles as notes pages for
my students’ interactive notebooks. We paste
them in our notebooks on the right (I shrink them
to 85% on the copier so they fit) and we do our
“notes” pages or flipbooks on the left side. Some
of the articles have several different activities. I
would not do all of them, but pick and choose
what you like best. AFTER we have read the
articles together and taken our notes, then I
would give them a copy of the article (or have
them use the one in their notebooks) and let them
answer the comprehension questions for a grade.
The questions may be difficult for your students
if you haven’t discussed it beforehand. I would
even make sure to go over the questions in the
discussion, just to be sure. The answers provided
in the answer key are POSSIBLE answers, but you
may accept other answers as well. Again, it
depends on your discussion. I hope you find these
useful! If you have any questions or notice any
typos, please email me at
cutesyclickables@gmail.com
and I will fix them ASAP!
Table of Contents
Article
Page #
Interactive Notebook Activities for
ALL articles
5-10
The Louisiana Purchase
11-15
Lewis and Clark
16-23
The War of 1812
24-30
The Alamo
31-36
The Trail of Tears
37-44
The Oregon Trail
45-50
The California Gold Rush
51-59
A Note to the
Teacher:
The following graphic
organizers or flipbooks
can be used with ANY of
the articles.
A Timeline of Important Events in Westward Expansion
© Cutesy Clickables
A Timeline of the Important Events in Westward
Expansion
Answer Key
America purchased the
Louisiana Territory.
1803
1804
Lewis and Clark
explored the northwest.
War of 1812
1812
1830
The Battle of the Alamo
1836
1838
People begin traveling
along the Oregon Trail.
The Trail of Tears
begins.
1843
1848
The California Gold
Rush
The Indian Removal Act
is passed.
Gold is found in
Califronia.
1849
© Cutesy Clickables
These tabs are separate pieces. Glue the tab down ONLY.
This is meant to be pasted into interactive notebooks.
Students write on the notebook paper below the tab.
Important events
from the article
Text Summary
Main Idea
Detail
Detail
Detail
© Cutesy Clickables
“Answer Key”
Important events
from the article
Text Summary
Put the Article Title
Here
Put the Article Title
Here
Main Idea
Detail
Detail
Detail
© Cutesy Clickables
Making Inferences
This flipbook can be used to go along with reading the article.
Glue the tab down ONLY and cut on the solid line between the
flaps. This is meant to be pasted into interactive notebooks.
Students write on the notebook paper below the flipbook.
Events in the
Article
+
What I know
=
My Inference
© Cutesy Clickables
Example Using the article Lewis and Clark
Making Inferences
Under the flaps:
Events in the
Article
Lewis and Clark explored the
Louisiana Territory. They did
not know much about this
area. They wanted to find a
river that went straight to the
Pacific Ocean.
+
What I know
The Louisiana Territory had
few people other than Native
Americans. There were
animals and plants they had
never seen. They didn’t know
what to expect when they
explored the land.
=
My Inference
Lewis and Clark were brave
to go on this dangerous
expedition. They learned a lot
and had to persevere through
difficult situations. They must
have enjoyed adventure.
© Cutesy Clickables
The Louisiana Purchase
Westward Expansion Articles
Article 1
1800-1803
After the Americans won the
Revolutionary War, many began to move
west. Nearly one million Americans lived
between the Appalachian Mountains and the
Mississippi River. Most of them were farmers.
Unfortunately, there were few roads in this
part of the country, so the farmers had a
difficult time getting their goods out to sell.
Because of this, they used the Mississippi
River. They sent the goods down the river in
a boat and the goods would go to the port of
New Orleans. From there, they could be taken to other ports.
Spain was in control of New Orleans until 1800. In 1800, they signed a treaty with France,
and France gained control of the port. Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States,
became worried that France would no longer allow the Americans to use the port of New Orleans.
Jefferson sent two men, Robert Livingston and James Monroe, to France to talk with French leader
Napoleon Bonaparte and see if he would sell New Orleans to America. The men were supposed to
buy the New Orleans port and part of Florida. They were to spend no more than ten million dollars.
At first, Napoleon did not want to sell. However, he was about to go to war with Britain,
and he needed the money. He offered the entire Louisiana Territory, 800,000 square miles, for
fifteen million dollars. Livingston and Monroe were stunned. They were only supposed to buy New
Orleans, but they felt that Jefferson would want to have all of the land. In April of 1803, a treaty
was signed and it was a done deal! The United States had more than doubled in size for less than 3
cents an acre. This is considered the biggest real estate deal in history.
At first Jefferson was unsure if the purchase was constitutional.
However, since he received the land in a treaty, and the constitution
did state that presidents could sign a treaty, it was found constitutional.
This purchase would be considered the greatest thing that President
Thomas Jefferson did.
The Louisiana Territory extended from Canada on the north to
the Gulf of Mexico on the south. It went from the Mississippi River on
the east to the Rocky Mountains on the west. Once Americans found
out that the United States owned the land, more and more moved west.
This was a great opportunity for Americans to own land, however, it
would also lead to some challenges. Native Americans were less than
thrilled that Americans were moving onto their land, but Americans felt
the dangers were worth the opportunity for a new beginning.
Thomas Jefferson
© Cutesy Clickables
Events leading up to the Louisiana Purchase
This flipbook can be used to go along with reading the article. Glue the
tab down ONLY and cut on the solid line between the flaps. This is meant
to be pasted into interactive notebooks. Students write on the notebook
paper below the flipbook.
Causes of
the Louisiana
Purchase
Effects of
the Louisiana
Purchase
© Cutesy Clickables
Events leading up to the Louisiana Purchase
Answer Key
Causes of the Louisiana
Purchase
Farmers needed to use the New
Orleans to sell goods
Spain gave the port to France
Jefferson was worried that France
would not let Americans use the
port
Effects of the
Louisiana Purchase
Livingston and Monroe acquired the
entire Louisiana Territory for $15 million.
The got it for less than 3 cents and acre
It is the biggest real estate deal in history
Americans could move west
American kept the New Orleans port
Native Americans were upset that
Americans moved onto their land
© Cutesy Clickables
The Louisiana Purchase
Comprehension Questions
1.
What was so important about the port of New Orleans? _________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
2.
Why was Thomas Jefferson worried when France gained control of the New Orleans port?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
3.
What were Livingston and Monroe supposed to do when they spoke to Napoleon in France?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
4.
What deal did Napoleon offer Livingston and Monroe? __________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
5.
Why is the Louisiana Purchase considered the greatest real estate deal in history?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
6. Some say that the Louisiana Purchase is the greatest thing that Thomas Jefferson
ever did. Do you agree? Why or why not?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
© Cutesy Clickables
The Louisiana Purchase
Comprehension Questions- Answer Key
1.
What was so important about the port of New Orleans? Farmers needed to use the port to
transport their goods to other places since there weren’t many roads.
2.
Why was Thomas Jefferson worried when France gained control of the New Orleans port?
He thought that France would not allow Americans to use the port.
3.
What were Livingston and Monroe supposed to do when they spoke to Napoleon in France?
They were supposed to buy the port of New Orleans and part of Florida. They weren’t
supposed to spend more than 10 million dollars
4.
What deal did Napoleon offer Livingston and Monroe? He offered the entire Louisiana
Territory for $15 million.
5.
Why is the Louisiana Purchase considered the greatest real estate deal in history?
It’s considered the greatest real estate deal in history because Jefferson acquired 800,000
square miles for less than 3 cents an acre. It more than doubled the size of the United
States at that time.
6. Some say that the Louisiana Purchase is the greatest thing that Thomas Jefferson
ever did. Do you agree? Why or why not?
They may say yes because it’s such a great deal. They may say no because Jefferson also
wrote the Declaration of Independence which proclaimed America to be free.
© Cutesy Clickables
Lewis and Clark
Westward Expansion Articles
Article 2
1804-1806
Once the United States purchased the
Louisiana Territory, it needed to be explored
because there was not much known about this
area. Thomas Jefferson wanted to find out
more about it, so he set up an expedition, or
mission, to get information. .He put two men
in charge of this important expedition,
Merriwether Lewis and William Clark. Lewis
was an army captain and he chose his good
friend William Clark to go with him. Lewis led
the expedition and Clark took notes and made
maps. Along with them, they brought scouts, hunters, cooks, and workers. Their crew included
about 40 people and they were called the Corps of Discovery. Besides taking notes about the
geography of the land, plants, and animals in this area, the Corps of Discovery was also to create
friendly relationships with the Native Americans along the way and to learn from them. Jefferson
was also hoping that the expedition would find a river to the Pacific Ocean.
The group started in St. Louis, Missouri on the Missouri River in three large row boats in May
of 1804. Because they were traveling towards the Continental Divide (the Rocky Mountains
separate the rivers flowing into the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico from those that flow
into the Pacific Ocean), they were going against the current, which made rowing very difficult and
slow. By August, they reached the Great Plains where they saw buffalo for the first time. The
group wanted to get as far as they could before winter froze the Missouri River up. In October,
they had gotten as far as what is today North Dakota. They had to stop due to the weather and
they made winter camp near the Mandan Tribe. They built a fort that they called Fort Mandan.
At Ft. Mandan, they met a French fur trader named Toussaint Charbonneau and his Shoshone
wife, Sacagawea. After winter, Charbonneau and Sacagawea would be their guides. Once
winter was over, they set off on the Missouri once again. They traveled west through Montana and
finally made it to the Great Falls of the Missouri. The Falls were so difficult to get around, they had
to carry their boats for 18 miles. They continued west, into the
Rocky Mountains. Sacagawea helped them acquire horses from
the Shoshone tribe so that they could continue on their journey.
They crossed the Continental Divide, which was
treacherous, or difficult and dangerous, along the Nez Perce
Trail. They were running low on supplies and needed to get
food. On a mission to find food, Clark came across a Nez
Perce chief who gave him food and information on how to get
to the Columbia River, which they knew would take them to the
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark
Pacific Ocean. He also showed Clark how to build better
© Cutesy Clickables
canoes for their travels and kept their horses for them until the return trip. In November of 1805,
they had finally reached the Pacific Ocean. They had traveled more than 3,000 miles in a year and
a half. This was just in time to settle in for the winter. They built Fort Clatsop while enduring
constant rains in what is now Oregon. In March of 1806, they were ready for the return trip back
to St. Louis.
On the trip home, Lewis and Clark split up. Lewis traveled a land route that the Nez Perce
used to get to their buffalo hunting grounds. His group was nearly destroyed when a group of
Blackfoot Native Americans tried to steal their weapons. In the struggle, two Native Americans
were killed, causing Lewis and his group to travel almost 100 miles in one day to get away. He met
up with Clark at the Missouri River. Clark had taken the same route that they traveled before, still
using Charbonneau and Sacagawea as guides. Taking the Missouri River back to St. Louis, the entire
group returned home on September 23, 1806 as heroes.
Even though the Corps of Discovery did not find an all water route to the Pacific Ocean,
their expedition was very successful. They were able to give Thomas Jefferson valuable information
about the land to the west. They returned with notes on landforms, plants, and animals and created
relationships with Native Americans throughout the country. They created maps that would help
American trade expand and opened up options for fur trading.
Sacagawea
Sacagawea’s actual birth date is unknown, but in 1800, at the
age of 12, Sacagawea, of the Shoshone tribe, was kidnapped by
some members of a Hidatsa tribe during a battle. At the age of 13,
she was sold as a slave to French fur trader Touissaint Charbonneau,
who then married her. When the Corps of Discovery arrived in their
Mandan village in November of 1804, Sacagawea was pregnant with
her first child. She had a son, Jean-Baptist, on February 11, 1805.
Because Sacagawea spoke Shoshone, Lewis and Clark chose her and
her husband as guides and translators on their expedition.
Sacagawea set out with them in April 1805, her infant son on her
back.
In August of 1805, the Corps of Discovery met a Shoshone
Lewis and Clark at Three Forks
tribe. They wanted to trade with the tribe to get horses that would
with Sacagawea
help them cross the Rocky Mountains. The tribe they found was
actually Sacagawea’s tribe and her brother, Cameahwait, was the chief. They had an emotional
reunion and then they were able to make a peaceful trade for horses. They continued on their
journey with Sacagawea and a few other Shoshone working as guides.
Throughout the expedition, Sacagawea remembered trails from her youth and used her
knowledge of the native plants to help find food and to make medicine for the explorers. She also
helped guide Clark on the return trip. In 1809, Charbonneau and Sacagawea accepted William
Clark’s invitation to come to St. Louis so that Jean-Baptiste could get a good education. Around
1812, Sacagawea gave birth to her daughter Lisette, and died shortly after. William Clark adopted
Jean-Baptiste and saw that he got an education. There is not much known about what happened to
Lisette. Sacagawea was a valuable member of the Corps of Discovery.
© Cutesy Clickables
This flipbook can be used to go along with reading the article. Glue the
tab down ONLY and cut on the solid line between the flaps. This is meant
to be pasted into interactive notebooks. Students write on the notebook
paper below the flipbook.
Causes of the
Lewis and
Clark
Expedition
Effects of the
Lewis and
Clark
Expedition
© Cutesy Clickables
Answer Key
Causes of the Lewis
and Clark Expedition
Jefferson wanted to learn more about
the Louisiana Territory
He wanted to know about the landforms,
plants, and animals
He wanted to create friendly
relationships with the Native Americans
Effects of the Lewis
and Clark Expedition
Lewis and Clark took notes about the animals,
plants, and landforms in the Louisiana Territory
They made maps of the rivers and landforms
They created many friendly relationships with
the Native Americans
They opened up opportunities for fur trading
© Cutesy Clickables
Important Figures
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tab down ONLY and cut on the solid line between the flaps. This is meant
to be pasted into interactive notebooks. Students write on the notebook
paper below the flipbook.
Thomas
Jefferson
Merriwether
Lewis
William Clark
Sacagawea
© Cutesy Clickables
Important Figures
Answer Key
Thomas Jefferson
3rd President
Bought the Louisiana Purchase
Acquired Lewis and Clark to explore the
territory
Merriwether Lewis
Captain in the US Army
Led the expedition
Was Jefferson’s personal secretary
William Clark
Drew maps and made notes about the
Louisiana Territory
He convinced Sacagawea to bring
Jean-Baptiste to St. Louis
He adopted Jean-Baptiste
Sacagawea
She was a guide and translator for
Lewis and Clark
She negotiated a trade for horses
from the Shoshone
She was the only woman on the
expedition
© Cutesy Clickables
Lewis and Clark
Comprehension Questions
1.
Why did Thomas Jefferson send Lewis and Clark on an expedition? _________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
2.
What did Thomas Jefferson hope would be the outcome of the expedition? ___________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
3.
Why was the trip along the Missouri River so long and hard for the Corps of Discovery?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
4.
How did Sacagawea help Lewis and Clark on their expedition? ____________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
5.
How did the Nez Perce help the Corps of Discovery? __________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
6.
How did the Lewis and Clark expedition help Thomas Jefferson and the United States?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
© Cutesy Clickables
Lewis and Clark
Comprehension Questions
1.
Why did Thomas Jefferson send Lewis and Clark on an expedition? He wanted to explore
the Louisiana Territory and find out what the land was like.
2.
What did Thomas Jefferson hope would be the outcome of the expedition? Jefferson
hoped that Lewis and Clark could take notes about the plants and animals they saw. He also
hoped they could make maps of the rivers and other landforms along the way. He really
hoped that they would find a river that would take them to the Pacific Ocean. He wanted
them to be friendly to the Native Americans.
3.
Why was the trip along the Missouri River so long and hard for the Corps of Discovery?
They were going against the current since they were heading toward the Continental Divide.
4.
How did Sacagawea help Lewis and Clark on their expedition? Sacagawea helped by
guiding the group through the mountains. She spoke to Native American tribes on behalf of
the explorers and negotiated a trade for horses that helped them get through the mountains.
5.
How did the Nez Perce help the Corps of Discovery? The Nez Perce told Clark where the
Columbia River was. They also gave him food and showed him how to make a better canoe.
They kept their horses for them while they went to the Pacific Ocean.
6.
How did the Lewis and Clark expedition help Thomas Jefferson and the United States?
Lewis and Clark made maps of the Louisiana Territory. They also took notes of the plants and
animals that could be found. This opened up the opportunity for fur trapping and trading in
the future. It also gave people the courage to move further west in hopes of a better life.
© Cutesy Clickables
The War of 1812
Westward Expansion Articles
Article 3
1812-1814
Not long after Thomas Jefferson
purchased the Louisiana Territory, Britain and
France went to war. America wanted to stay
neutral, or not take sides. They continued to
trade with both France and Britain, along with
other countries. This made both countries
angry with America. To stop America from
trading with France, Britain would seize, or
take, American ships. The British boarded the
ships, took the goods, and sometimes even
forced Americans to work on British ships.
Oliver Hazard Perry defeats the British at
They also began blockading important ports so
The Battle of Lake Erie
that American ships could not leave America.
Americans were also moving west, which upset the Native Americans. Britain still had land in
Canada, which many Americans wanted to claim as part of the United States. Plus, the British
began helping the Native Americans by supplying guns and encouraging them to fight the
Americans. All of this made the Americans angry with Britain.
In 1812, President James Madison asked Congress to declare war with Britain. Most of the
land fighting occurred in the north along the Canadian border, in the Chesapeake Bay area, and
along the Gulf of Mexico. Fighting also took place at sea. The U.S.S. Constitution, also called “Old
Ironsides,” is one of America’s most famous warships that fought in this war.
The British captured Detroit and were planning to enter the United States when Captain
Oliver Perry intercepted them on Lake Erie. Perry’s crew defeated the British on Lake Erie, which
meant America kept the Northwest Territory. The British decided to go to Chesapeake Bay and
then marched to Washington D.C. First Lady Dolley Madison was still in the president’s home. She
escaped, saving many important government papers as she went. The British set fire to the
president’s home and the U.S. Capitol. After the war, the president’s home was rebuilt and painted
white, which is why it is now called The White House.
Next, the British attacked Baltimore, Maryland. Fort McHenry
protected the city and the British Navy fired for hours on the fort. The
Americans did not give up. After seeing the American flag still waving
over the fort, Francis Scott Key wrote a poem called “The Star Spangled
Banner” which would eventually become our national anthem.
The last major battle was fought after the peace treaty had been
signed. Andrew Jackson led the Americans in the Battle of New Orleans
and was victorious over the British. Word had not made it to them that the
The U.S.S. Constitution
treaty had been signed in Europe. Although the borders did not change
after the war, it did increase the national spirit among Americans.
© Cutesy Clickables
This foldable can be used to go along with reading the article. Cut around
the entire foldable. Fold on the solid lines of the tabs. Glue the square
down ONLY. This is meant to be pasted into interactive notebooks.
Students write on the flaps under each word.
French
Americans
Native
Americans
Glue this part down
British
© Cutesy Clickables
Answer Key
Americans- Americans wanted to move further west and wanted to
claim more land in Canada.
Native Americans- They were unhappy that the Americans were moving
further west. They fought on the side of the British.
French- They were at war with Britain and traded with the Americans.
They sometimes seized boats as well.
British- They seized American ships and took the goods on it. They also
forced Americans to work on British ships. They gave Native Americans
guns and encouraged them to fight the Americans.
French
Americans
Native
Americans
Glue this part down
British
© Cutesy Clickables
How were they involved in the War of 1812?
This flipbook can be used to go along with reading the article. Glue the
tab down ONLY and cut on the solid line between the flaps. This is meant
to be pasted into interactive notebooks. Students write on the notebook
paper below the flipbook.
Americans
British
Native
Americans
French
© Cutesy Clickables
How were they involved in the War of 1812?
Answer Key
Americans- Americans wanted to move
further west and wanted to claim more land in
Canada. They were angry that the British
were seizing their ships.
British- They seized American ships and took
the goods on it. They also forced Americans
to work on British ships. They gave Native
Americans guns and encouraged them to fight
the Americans. They also blockaded American
ports.
Native Americans- They were unhappy that
the Americans were moving further west.
They fought on the side of the British.
French- They were at war with Britain and
traded with the Americans. They sometimes
seized boats as well.
© Cutesy Clickables
The War of 1812
Comprehension Questions
1. What does neutral mean? ________________________________________________
2. List at least three reasons that the Americans were angry with the British. ______________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
3. What was the effect of the British marching through Washington D.C.? _______________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
4. Who wrote “The Star Spangled Banner” and what was his inspiration? ________________
_____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
5. What did the Americans gain from the War of 1812? ____________________________
______________________________________________________________________
© Cutesy Clickables
The War of 1812
Comprehension Questions- Answer Key
1. What does neutral mean? To not take sides
2. List at least three reasons that the Americans were angry with the British. The British blockaded the
ports, they seized ships and goods on the ships, they forced Americans to work on British ships, they
gave the Native Americans guns, they encouraged the Native Americans to fight the Americans.
3. What was the effect of the British marching through Washington D.C.? They set the president’s house
and the Capitol on fire.
4. Who wrote “The Star Spangled Banner” and what was his inspiration? Francis Scott Key wrote it
after he saw the American flag still waving over Fort McHenry.
5. What did the Americans gain from the War of 1812? They gained a sense of pride and national spirit.
© Cutesy Clickables
The Alamo
Westward Expansion Articles
Article 4
1836-1845
During the 1820s, many Americans were moving to
Texas, even though Texas belonged to Mexico. GTT was
written on the doors of homes and barns, which meant
Gone To Texas! They were searching for cheap land and
the freedom of the frontier. Stephen Austin was an
American with a dream of starting a western community
who led many to Texas. Austin had permission from Mexico
to start a settlement, but many Americans did not have
permission. Soon, there were more Americans than
The Alamo as drawn in 1854
Mexicans in Texas. A new Mexican president named
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna wanted to stop Americans from coming into Texas. He taxed goods
imported from America and sent officers to enforce the taxes. This upset the Americans and they
wanted a change. When a group of American Texans opened fire on Mexican soldiers near the
town of Gonzalez, war began.
San Antonio was the largest city in Texas and the Texans wanted to capture it. Stephen
Austin was made commander of the Texan army and immediately marched to San Antonio. Two of
his soldiers included Jim Bowie and James Fannin. From October to December of 1835, the rebel
Texans laid siege to San Antonio, and the Mexicans eventually surrendered after they had lost so
many casualties and had become outnumbered. However, San Antonio was actually far from
where most of the Texans had settled and General Sam Houston ordered Jim Bowie to demolish the
Alamo, take any artillery they could find, and abandon the city. There was no need to hold a city so
far from their settlements in the east. Jim Bowie disobeyed and began fortifying the city and the
Alamo. This would directly lead to the tragic Battle of the Alamo.
The Alamo was a Spanish mission that functioned as a church until 1793. The Alamo was built
out of limestone and everything except the outer walls of the building collapsed while it was being
built. At the time that Jim Bowie began fortifying the Alamo, it was a roofless ruin with a high rock
wall about three feet thick that enclosed the area. This space was large enough to hold about 1,000
men.
When Santa Anna heard about the loss of San
Antonio, he was angry. He sent a large army of up to 6,000
Mexican soldiers to crush the Texan army still in San Antonio.
There were only about 200 Texans still there. Jim Bowie and
William Travis were in charge. They sent out pleas for help
to nearby towns. Davy Crockett and about a dozen
Tennessee riflemen came to help. Few more reinforcements
would come. When the large Mexican force showed up on
February 22, 1836, the Texans went into the fort and
The Fall of the Alamo
prepared to defend themselves from the coming attack.
© Cutesy Clickables
When the Mexican force got to the Alamo,
Santa Anna hoisted a flag of “no quarter” which
meant that he would take no prisoners. The Texans
needed to surrender completely or they would fight
to the death. The Texans answered by shooting a
cannon and the Mexicans began their attack. Santa
Anna did not secure all of the exits from the city,
meaning that the Texans could leave at any point
during the night. However, they remained at the
Alamo.
William Travis sent out requests for help from
James Fannin, 90 miles away. However, Fannin
knew that his 300 men would not be enough to help.
He did not come. Travis also sent word to Sam
Houston, who also did not send reinforcements. 32
brave men from the nearby town of Gonzalez made
it through enemy lines to join the Texans in the Alamo.
That was all of the reinforcements they would get.
A map of the Alamo drawn in 1836
The siege lasted 13 days. Early in the morning
of March 6, the Mexicans stormed the walls of the Alamo. The Texans were severely outnumbered
and the battle was over in about 90 minutes. All of the men inside were killed. Santa Anna spared a
few women and children. One of the women was Susanna Dickinson. Santa Anna sent her to Sam
Houston, the leader of the Texans, to tell him what had happened at the Alamo. Santa Anna hoped
that Houston would give up after hearing about the battle. He was wrong. Hearing about the
Alamo actually caused Sam Houston to want to fight even harder. The Texans were determined to
win.
On April 21, 1836 Sam Houston prepared to attack Santa Anna and his Mexican army in San
Jacinto. The Texans were still angry about what had happened at the Alamo and they used the
battle cry “Remember the Alamo” as they fought. In a surprise attack, Houston was able to defeat
the Mexican army and capture Santa Anna. Santa Anna was then forced to sign a peace treaty.
Texas was free from Mexico and was its own country. It was called the Republic of Texas and was
led by Sam Houston.
Texas would become a state in 1845,
becoming the 28th state in the Union. Today the
Alamo is an important historic landmark in the city
of San Antonio. Many people visit there each
year. The Alamo has been restored to the way it
probably looked when it was a mission.
Susanna Dickinson
© Cutesy Clickables
This flipbook can be used to go along with reading the article. Glue the
tab down ONLY and cut on the solid line between the flaps. This is meant
to be pasted into interactive notebooks. Students write on the notebook
paper below the flipbook.
The Alamo
Why were Americans
moving to Texas?
Why did the
Americans want San
Antonio?
What was the
problem Americans
had at the Alamo?
What was the effect
of the Battle of the
Alamo?
© Cutesy Clickables
Answer Key
The Alamo
They wanted free land and the freedom of the
frontier.
Why did the Americans want San Antonio?
San Antonio was the largest city in Texas and
they thought the Alamo would be a good fort.
What was the problem Americans had at the
Alamo?
The Americans were outnumbered. They did
not retreat, even though they could have, and
Santa Anna’s soldiers took no prisoners.
What was the effect of the Battle of the
Alamo?
Many Americans died. The Americans that
were still in Texas used the battle as a rallying
cry “Remember the Alamo” and it gave them
courage and motivation to try to win Texas.
© Cutesy Clickables
The Alamo
Comprehension Questions
1.
Why did many Americans move to Texas in the 1820s? __________________________
______________________________________________________________________
2.
Why did Sam Houston tell Jim Bowie to abandon San Antonio? _____________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
3.
What did the Alamo look like when Jim Bowie used it as a fort in 1836? ______________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
4.
How many Texans were at the battle of the Alamo? How many Mexican troops were
there?
Texans
______________________________________________________________________
5.
What does a “no quarter” flag mean? Why did Santa Anna hoist that flag? ___________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
6.
Why didn’t Houston or Fannin send any reinforcements to help at the Alamo? __________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
7.
How did the Battle of the Alamo affect the Texans in their battle for independence from
Mexico?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
© Cutesy Clickables
The Alamo
Comprehension Questions- Answer Key
1.
Why did many Americans move to Texas in the 1820s? They wanted cheap land and the
freedom of the frontier.
2.
Why did Sam Houston tell Jim Bowie to abandon San Antonio? San Antonio was too far
away from the Texans’ settlements in east Texas.
3.
What did the Alamo look like when Jim Bowie used it as a fort in 1836? The Alamo was a
roofless ruin with a wall around it 3 feet thick. It could hold up to 1,000 men.
4.
How many Texans were at the battle of the Alamo? How many Mexican troops were
there?
Texans- 200
Mexicans- up to 6,000
5.
What does a “no quarter” flag mean? Why did Santa Anna hoist that flag? “No quarter”
means that they were going to kill everyone inside. There would be no prisoners.
6.
Why didn’t Houston or Fannin send any reinforcements to help at the Alamo? They knew
that the few people they had would not be enough to defend the Alamo from Santa Anna’s
Texans
troops. They would all die.
7.
How did the Battle of the Alamo affect the Texans in their battle for independence from
Mexico?
The Battle of the Alamo gave the remaining Texans a reason to continue fighting. They were
angry and sad that so many had died in the Alamo and they were determined for revenge
and independence from Mexico.
© Cutesy Clickables
A Note to the
Teacher:
The article on the Trail of
Tears is in two formats.
The first is just one page.
The second is two pages
with a larger map.
The Trail of Tears
Westward Expansion Articles
Article 5
1830-1839
By 1830, the United States was growing. Many Native
American tribes still lived in the states, including the Cherokee, the
Choctaw, the Chickasaw, the Muscogee-Creek, and the Seminole.
President Andrew Jackson felt that these tribes were acting as
foreign nations within the states, which was unconstitutional. He
proposed the Indian Removal Act in 1830 which stated that Native
American tribes living in the states would be removed to west of
the Mississippi River to federal territory in exchange for their
homelands. The tribes would sign peace treaties stating they
would give up their lands in exchange for land in the west. Many Native Americans did not want to
leave their land, but with mounting pressure from the government and soldiers, many tribes signed
agreements.
In Georgia, the Cherokee especially did not want to be removed. They fought all the way to
the Supreme Court, and they won. In order to be removed, both sides would have to agree in a
treaty. In 1835, both the Cherokee and the Senate came to an agreement. The removal of the
Cherokee began in the summer of 1838. Soldiers came to force the Cherokee off their land.
The army had built removal forts. Cherokee were taken to these forts to wait for the long
march to Indian Territory. The forts were terrible places to live, much like a prison camp. There
was little food, their personal items were often stolen, and the forts were very dirty. Some
Cherokee went to the forts voluntarily, but most waited for soldiers to come and get them.
Sometimes they didn’t even have time to collect their belongings before they were forced to leave.
The march to Oklahoma was almost 1,000 miles long. The first groups of Cherokee left in
the summer. Food, medicine, and water was scarce. Some had to turn and go back to the camps.
The rest of the Cherokee left in October or November. 12,000 men, women, and children began
the march west. There were about 1,000 Cherokee in each group, along with a doctor. A total of
654 wagons went with the groups, usually to carry supplies. Sometimes the elderly, sick, or women
with babies rode in the wagons. Everyone else walked.
Many of the groups took the trail to the north. This was not a good choice. The rain and all
of the wagons made it very difficult to travel on these roads. Also, they were traveling towards
the north in the winter. Many groups got stuck on the roads in January. The Cherokee did not have
the correct supplies for travel, including blankets or shoes. There was very little grass for their
animals to eat along the way and animals that could be hunted, like deer or elk, were hard to find.
The Cherokee had not been prepared for this long difficult journey. It was especially
difficult on the elderly and the children. Many of them died. More than 4,000 Cherokees died on
the march. They were forced to bury their dead along the side of the road as they walked. Those
that lived made it to Oklahoma by March of 1839. Whenever the Cherokee speak of this time in
history, they call it “Nunna-da-ul-tsun-yi” which translates to “the place where they cried”. This is
why it is now called The Trail of Tears.
© Cutesy Clickables
The Trail of Tears
Westward Expansion Articles
Article 4
1830-1839
By 1830, the United States was growing. Many Native American tribes still lived in the states,
including the Cherokee, the Choctaw, the Chickasaw, the Muscogee-Creek, and the Seminole.
President Andrew Jackson felt that these tribes were acting as foreign nations within the states,
which was unconstitutional. He proposed the Indian Removal Act in 1830 which stated that Native
American tribes living in the states would be removed to west of the Mississippi River to federal
territory in exchange for their homelands. The tribes would sign peace treaties stating they
would give up their lands in exchange for land in the west. Many Native Americans did not want to
leave their land, but with mounting pressure from the government and soldiers, many tribes signed
agreements.
In Georgia, the Cherokee especially did not want to be removed. They fought all the way to
the Supreme Court, and they won. In order to be removed, both sides would have to agree in a
treaty. In 1835, both the Cherokee and the Senate came to an agreement. The removal of the
Cherokee began in the summer of 1838. Soldiers came to force the Cherokee off their land.
The army had built removal forts. Cherokee were taken to these forts to wait for the long
march to Indian Territory. The forts were terrible places to live, much like a prison camp. There
was little food, their personal items were often stolen, and the forts were very dirty. Some
Cherokee went to the forts voluntarily, but most waited for soldiers to come and get them.
Sometimes they didn’t even have time to collect their belongings before they were forced to leave.
© Cutesy Clickables
The march to Oklahoma was almost 1,000 miles long. The first groups of Cherokee left in
the summer. Food, medicine, and water was scarce. Some had to turn and go back to the camps.
The rest of the Cherokee left in October or November. 12,000 men, women, and children began
the march west. There were about 1,000 Cherokee in each group, along with a doctor. A total of
654 wagons went with the groups, usually to carry supplies. Sometimes the elderly, sick, or women
with babies rode in the wagons. Everyone else walked.
Many of the groups took the trail to the north. This was not a good choice. The rain and all
of the wagons made it very difficult to travel on these roads. Also, they were traveling towards
the north in the winter. Many groups got stuck on the roads in January. The Cherokee did not have
the correct supplies for travel, including blankets or shoes. There was very little grass for their
animals to eat along the way and animals that could be hunted, like deer or elk, were hard to find.
The Cherokee had not been prepared for this long difficult journey. It was especially
difficult on the elderly and the children. Many of them died. More than 4,000 Cherokees died on
the march. They were forced to bury their dead along the side of the road as they walked. Those
that lived made it to Oklahoma by March of 1839. Whenever the Cherokee speak of this time in
history, they call it “Nunna-da-ul-tsun-yi” which translates to “the place where they cried”. This is
why it is now called The Trail of Tears.
© Cutesy Clickables
The Trail of Tears
This flipbook can be used to go along with reading the article. Glue the
tab down ONLY and cut on the solid line between the flaps. This is meant
to be pasted into interactive notebooks. Students write on the notebook
paper below the flipbook.
Before
During
After
© Cutesy Clickables
The Trail of Tears
Answer Key
Before
In 1830, Andrew Jackson created the Indian Removal
Act and Congress passed it. The government started
making peace treaties with Native American Tribes to
get their land in the east and have them move to
federal territory in the west. The Cherokee went to
the Supreme Court fighting this and won, but still
signed a peace treaty to leave in 1835.
During
Once the treaty was signed, soldiers began moving
the Cherokee off their land. They were put in forts
where they had to wait to march to Oklahoma.
There was little food and the Native Americans did
not have the right supplies (food and blankets).
Medicine and water was also scarce. The elderly and
the children had a hard time on the march.
After
The Cherokee walked almost 1,000 miles. 12,000
Cherokee left on the march. 4,000 died. They were
taken to land in Oklahoma where they would now
have to live. They call it the Trail of Tears, or the
place where people cried, because of the many
deaths and the difficult journey.
© Cutesy Clickables
The Trail of Tears
Comprehension Questions
1.
Who was responsible for the Indian Removal Act of 1830? _______________________
2.
What tribes were mostly affected by the Indian Removal Act? ____________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
3.
What were the forts like that the Cherokee were taken to after they were forced off their
land? Use evidence from the text.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
4.
What was the march like? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
5.
What caused so many Cherokee to die? How many died? ________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
6.
This march is now called The Trail of Tears. How do you feel about the Native Americans
being removed from their homelands? Why do you feel that way?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
© Cutesy Clickables
The Trail of Tears
Comprehension Questions-Answer Key
1.
Who was responsible for the Indian Removal Act of 1830? President Andrew Jackson
2.
What tribes were mostly affected by the Indian Removal Act? Cherokee, the Choctaw, the
Chickasaw, the Muscogee-Creek, and the Seminole
3.
What were the forts like that the Cherokee were taken to after they were forced off their
land? Use evidence from the text.
The forts were terrible places to live, much like a prison camp. There was little food, their
personal items were often stolen, and the forts were very dirty.
4. What was the march like? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.
The march to Oklahoma was almost 1,000 miles long. The first groups of Cherokee left in the
summer. Food, medicine, and water was scarce. They were marching in the winter and
lacked the supplies and clothing they needed. The rain made the roads hard to travel. Many
got sick and died.
5.
What caused so many Cherokee to die? How many died? They did not have the food or
clothing necessary for the march. The very young and old were most likely to get sick and
die. More than 4,000 Cherokee died.
6.
This march is now called The Trail of Tears. How do you feel about the Native Americans
being removed from their homelands? Why do you feel that way?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
© Cutesy Clickables
The Oregon Trail
Westward Expansion Articles
Article 6
1843-1869
Line of Original Emigration to the Pacific Northwest Commonly Known as the Old Oregon Trail from
The Ox Team or The Old Oregon Trail 1852 - 1906 by Ezra Meeker
Once people started exploring the west, news of lands with rich soil and open prairies
reached Americans in the east. Many Americans wanted the chance to claim these lands for
themselves and began to travel west. The journey was long and hard, but the families were willing
to risk everything to make the trip. These Americans were called pioneers because they would be
the first to settle in a new area. The pioneers traveled along trails that Native Americans and fur
trappers had been using for years before they came. The most common trail was the Oregon Trail.
It went from Independence, Missouri to Oregon Country. It was a 2,000 mile long trail that took
about five months to cross. Pioneers were able to travel about 15 miles per day. If the journey
took more than five months, it could become very dangerous. Pioneers could get stuck in the snow
in the mountains and may not survive.
What did they take with them?
Pioneers could take very little with them other than food. For a family of four, the pioneers
had to have over 1,000 pounds of food to make the entire journey. They brought flour, bacon,
coffee, sugar, salt, rice, and beans. They may also bring cooking utensils, buckets, a coffee pot,
and an iron skillet. In order to bring this much food, they had to have a wagon. The wagon was
mostly filled with food and maybe three sets of clothing for each person in the family. Many also
brought a shovel, an ax, a rifle, bedding, and maybe a tent with them. Pioneers left almost all of
their belongings in their homes in the east. There just wasn’t room to bring anything fancy with them.
Many pioneers overloaded their wagons with supplies. As they started on the journey, they would
realize the wagons were too heavy, so they would throw items out of the wagon onto the side of
the trail. Especially on sections of the trail that were difficult to travel, there would be materials
littered along the side. Heavy trunks, wedding gifts, and family heirlooms could be found all along
the trail as the oxen became more and more tired from pulling the wagons.
© Cutesy Clickables
How did they get their supplies to Oregon?
Most pioneers used covered wagons on the trail.
They were often called Prairie Schooners because they
looked like boats traveling along the prairie. When a family
decided they wanted to take the trip west, they often had to
save money for three to five years. A wagon cost about
$400 and the trip with supplies could be as much as $1,000.
The wagon was made of wood with iron around the wheels.
The front wheels were smaller than the back wheels to help
the wagon turn. It was usually four feet wide and ten feet
A Prairie Schooner
long. They could carry about 2,500 pounds. If an axle
broke on the wagon, the owners were in serious trouble. Without a spare, they would have to
abandon the wagon. The cover was made from canvas and was waterproofed with linseed oil. It
would protect the supplies for a while, but would eventually leak during constant rain. Oxen often
pulled the wagons because it took a strong animal to pull such a heavy load and horses could not
survive on prairie grass. Many oxen died of exhaustion or thirst. They would be abandoned along
the side of the road.
What was a wagon train?
Pioneers traveled in groups called
wagon trains. This was a group of
covered wagons, usually around 100 of
them. People signed up to join the group
and they were well organized. The
groups would elect someone to be in
charge and often hired a guide to take
them on the trail. At night, the wagon
train would circle up. This helped corral the animals so they would not wander off.
What were some of the problems faced on the Oregon Trail?
Traveling west was difficult. One in ten people that made the journey would not survive.
Because the wagons carried the supplies, pioneers had to walk. Only the elderly, sick, or babies
would travel inside the wagon. The trails were very dusty and dirty. When it rained, the dust turned
to mud. The sun would cause people’s lips to blister and split. Most thought that the greatest danger
was from Native Americans, but they were wrong. The biggest killer among the pioneers was a
disease called cholera. People would feel fine in the morning but be dead by evening. Cholera
could kill a whole family in a week. There were also accidents that occurred on the trail. Guns
would go off when people weren’t paying attention. Children would fall from the wagons and be
crushed under the wagon wheels. River crossings, called fording, were one of the most dangerous
times. Wagons could become stuck in the mud at the bottom of a river and the wheels may break.
Wagons had to be floated across the deeper rivers. Many did not know how to swim and would
drown. If a wagon tipped over, they would lose everything. The Oregon Trail has been called the
nation’s longest graveyard. There were almost 65,000 deaths. Those that made it to Oregon were
rewarded with beautiful land, but they’d had to suffer many hardships to get there.
© Cutesy Clickables
This flipbook can be used to go along with reading the article. Glue the
tab down ONLY and cut on the solid line between the flaps. This is meant
to be pasted into interactive notebooks. Students write on the notebook
paper below the flipbook.
The Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail
Supplies
Wagons
Dangers
© Cutesy Clickables
Answer Key
The Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail
The corridor to the west was a 2,000 mile trail.
It started in Independence, Missouri and ended
in Oregon Country. The journey took about
five months and about 15 miles were traveled
each day.
Supplies
A family of four had to take about 1,000
pounds of food. They also brought cooking
utensils, buckets, iron skillets, coffee pots,
shovels, an ax, a rifle, and bedding. Also, a
few sets of clothes.
Wagons
Prairie Schooner- a covered wagon that
carried supplies. It was made from wood and
had two smaller wheels in the front. Oxen
often pulled the wagons. They traveled in
wagon trains that were well organized.
Dangers
Cholera was the biggest killer. One out of ten
died on the trail. Children were crushed under
wagon wheels. Fording rivers was a big
danger. People drowned.
© Cutesy Clickables
The Oregon Trail
Comprehension Questions
1.
Why did people want to travel west on the Oregon Trail? ________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
2.
How far was the Oregon Trail and how long did it take the pioneers to travel it?
______________________________________________________________________
3.
How much food did a family of four have to take with them? What are some examples of
the food they brought?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
4.
What are some of the other supplies the pioneers brought with them? _______________
______________________________________________________________________
5.
Describe a prairie schooner. Give at least 3 details. ____________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
6.
Why do you think pioneers traveled in wagon trains? ____________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
7.
What were some of the problems that the pioneers faced on the Oregon Trail?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
© Cutesy Clickables
The Oregon Trail
Comprehension Questions
8.
What do you think was the biggest problem that the pioneers faced on the Oregon Trail?
Why?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
9.
If you lived during the 1850s, would you have wanted to travel on the Oregon Trail? Why
or why not? Explain what you think it would have been like on the Oregon Trail. What do
you think the hardest part would have been?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
10. Based on the passage, describe what you see in this picture of a wagon train.
________________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
© Cutesy Clickables
The Oregon Trail
Comprehension Questions- Answer Key
1.
Why did people want to travel west on the Oregon Trail? They wanted to claim land that
had rich soil and become prosperous farmers.
2. How far was the Oregon Trail and how long did it take the pioneers to travel it?
It was 2,000 miles long and took close to 5 months to travel.
3.
How much food did a family of four have to take with them? What are some examples of
the food they brought?
1,000 pounds of food- flour, bacon, salt, sugar, rice, beans
4.
What are some of the other supplies the pioneers brought with them? They may bring an
ax, a rifle, shovels, a coffee pot, iron skillet, and cooking utensils.
5.
Describe a prairie schooner. Give at least 3 details. A prairie schooner was a wagon made
of wood with iron around the wheels. It had a canvas cover that was waterproofed with
linseed. The two front wheels were smaller than the back wheels so that it could turn more
easily. It could carry up to 2,500 pounds and was pulled by an oxen or mules.
6.
Why do you think pioneers traveled in wagon trains? Wagon trains were safer and more
organized. They could circle up at night so that the animals wouldn’t wander off. It helped
having a group to travel with in case people got sick or injured.
7. What were some of the problems that the pioneers faced on the Oregon Trail?
Some of the problems on the Oregon Trail included: difficult walking in the dust, dirt, and mud;
cholera; accidental gun shootings; children being crushed under wagon wheels; drowning;
river crossing.
8.
What do you think was the biggest problem that the pioneers faced on the Oregon Trail?
Why?
Possible answers- Cholera- killed many people
River crossing- everything could be lost and many drowned.
9.
If you lived during the 1850s, would you have wanted to travel on the Oregon Trail? Why
or why not? Explain what you think it would have been like on the Oregon Trail. What do
you think the hardest part would have been?
10. Based on the passage, describe what you see in this picture of a wagon train.
Wagons are fording the river. A wagon train is making a circle. There are fires being started
for warmth and cooking.
© Cutesy Clickables
The California Gold Rush
Westward Expansion Articles
Article 7
1848-1855
There had been rumors of gold in California for years. John
Sutter was a Swiss emigrant who arrived in California in 1839.
Because California was claimed by Mexico, he became a Mexican
citizen and received a land grant of 50,000 acres in Sacramento
Valley on the Sacramento River. He built a fort and developed a farm
and other businesses. Sutter’s Fort became a rest stop for travelers
and immigrants to California. In 1846, California was occupied by the
United States as they tried to acquire it from Mexico. The U.S.
obtained California in February of 1848 in the Treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo after the Mexican-American War.
In 1847, John Sutter hired James Marshall to build a sawmill on
his property at a site named Coloma, on American River. On January
4, 1848, as they were building the mill, James Marshall found a piece
of metal that looked like gold. He quickly took it to Sutter and they did
John Sutter
some research to find out if it was actually gold. After some testing,
they discovered it was gold. Sutter became very worried about others finding out about the gold.
He knew that the discovery of gold would bring many people to his property, and he did not want
this. He asked all of his workers to keep it a secret. Unfortunately, the secret got out when
merchant and publisher Samuel Brannan returned to San Francisco with a gold nugget from Sutter’s
Mill and published his finding. Large groups of people proceeded to Sutter’s Mill and began a search
for gold. This destroyed Sutter’s property and all he had worked for. He was disappointed that his
land would not become the businesses he had hoped. He gave the land to his son, who realized the
potential of the land, and quickly began planning a town, calling it Sacramento. It eventually
became the capital of California.
On August 19, 1848, The New York Herald
was the first major East Coast newspaper to
report about the discovery of gold. On December
5, 1848, President James Polk spoke about the
discovery of gold to Congress and confirmed gold
had been found. This made gold in California
national news. Just as Sutter had feared, more
and more people poured into California in search
of gold from all over the world.
The first people to rush to find gold were
people who already lived in California. Many
abandoned their homes, stores, and boats for the
opportunity to find gold. Entire families could be
found searching for gold, including women and
A picture of Sutter’s Mill in Coloma, California
children.
© Cutesy Clickables
The first prospectors, people who search for
minerals, that came to California were able to get rich
off of gold. This is because there were only about
6,000 people that came to California in 1848. Only
500 came by land. Many heard about the discovery
of gold and sailed to California. Many wanted to get
rich quick and then go home. Others were able to
make money by building cabins, stores, and cooking
food for the men that came to mine for gold.
By 1849, the news of gold had spread around
the world. Gold-seekers and merchants caught “Gold
Fever” and began to arrive in California from all over
the world. These people were called forty-niners
because they arrived in 1849. About 90,000 people
came to California hoping to get rich that year. They
expected to find rivers of gold, but instead found
fields crowded with miners. By 1855, nearly 300,000
people had arrived in California. Many were
Panning for gold on the Mokelumne
Americans, but there were also large groups from
China, Mexico, Australia, France, Italy, and Latin America.
The trail to California by land was the cheapest route, but also the slowest. Many Americans
traveled by covered wagon to California. They started the trail just as those did that went to
Oregon, but split away from the Oregon Trail and took the California trail. One of the benefits of
taking a covered wagon was that they could take all of their supplies with them. They were also
able to take food and tools they would need once they made it to California. The trail was
dangerous, and it was important for the prospectors to get through the Sierra Nevada Mountains
before winter. Many would make it to California, but many would also die from illness or starvation.
Most prospectors were previously store owners,
innkeepers, teachers, and farmers. After the surface gold had all
been panned, it was difficult to find gold. When prospectors
didn’t get rich quick, they often started businesses and trading
posts. They imported goods to sell to the miners and some began
farming and ranching. They used the skills that they already had
to be successful in California. By the mid 1850s gold was very
difficult to find. People were making fortunes from selling
California Trail
supplies to miners rather than actually mining for themselves.
Although many went to California hoping to get rich
quick, there were only a few who actually did. However,
many people moved to California and lived there
permanently, creating towns and businesses that helped
California and the United States become more successful.
Portsmouth Square, San Francisco, California in 1851
© Cutesy Clickables
This flipbook can be used to go along with reading the article. Glue the
tab down ONLY and cut on the solid line between the flaps. This is meant
to be pasted into interactive notebooks. Students write on the notebook
paper below the flipbook.
Causes of the
California Gold
Rush
Effects of the
California Gold
Rush
© Cutesy Clickables
Answer Key
Causes of the California Gold Rush
John Sutter and James Marshall found gold
at Sutter’s Mill. Many people were already
moving west, and once they heard about
gold, they wanted to get rich quick. The
news was published in California and in the
New York Herald, as well as President
James Polk discussing it with Congress.
People wanted to get there to get the gold
while it lasted.
Effects of the California Gold Rush
Many people went to California. Sutter’s
Mill was overrun with miners and
destroyed. His son built the town
Sacramento, which eventually became the
capital of California. Many people began
businesses in California and were able to
be successful. California grew and it had
a positive affect on the economics of the
U.S.
© Cutesy Clickables
The California Gold Rush
This flipbook can be used to go along with reading the article. Glue the
tab down ONLY and cut on the solid line between the flaps. This is meant
to be pasted into interactive notebooks. Students write on the notebook
paper below the flipbook.
How was gold
discovered?
Who came to
California?
What happened
after the Gold
Rush?
© Cutesy Clickables
The California Gold Rush
Answer Key
How was gold discovered?
John Sutter and James Marshall were building
a sawmill on Sutter’s land. During the process
of building it, they found gold near the
American River.
Who came to California?
People from many different continents came to
California. They came from America, China,
Mexico, Australia, Italy, and Latin America.
They were innkeepers, store owners, teachers,
and farmers. People who wanted to get rich
quick came to find gold.
What happened after the Gold Rush?
Only a few people actually became rich from
gold. Many were successful because they built
businesses to help the miners (selling tools,
cooking for them, building places for them to
sleep). California became prosperous after
the Gold Rush.
© Cutesy Clickables
The California Gold Rush
Comprehension Questions
1.
Who was the first to find gold in California? _________________________________
2.
How did they find the gold? _____________________________________________
3.
Why did John Sutter want to keep the discovery of gold a secret? _________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
4.
How did everyone find out about the gold? __________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
5.
How did most people get to California? _____________________________________
6.
Who came to California? Where were Texans
they from? ____________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
7.
When gold became difficult to find, what did many people do to make money? _________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
8.
If you had lived during this time, and you heard about gold in California, would you have
traveled west to California? Why or why not?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
© Cutesy Clickables
The California Gold Rush
Comprehension Questions- Answer Key
1.
Who was the first to find gold in California? John Sutter and James Marshall
2.
How did they find the gold? They found it while building their sawmill.
3.
Why did John Sutter want to keep the discovery of gold a secret? He knew that once
people found out about the gold, they would all come to his land and start mining for gold. It
would ruin the land.
4.
How did everyone find out about the gold? Samuel Brannan published about it in San
Francisco. Then it was published in the New York Herald and President James Polk spoke
about it to Congress.
5.
How did most people get to California? Many sailed. Some took the California Trail.
6.
Who came to California? Where were they from? People from many different continents
came. They were from America, China, Australia, Mexico, Italy, and Latin America.
7.
When gold became difficult to find, what did many people do to make money? Many built
Texanscoming to California. Some had farms and
businesses using skills they already had before
ranches.
8.
If you had lived during this time, and you heard about gold in California, would you have
traveled west to California? Why or why not?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
© Cutesy Clickables
Acknowledgements
Thank you for downloading this resource! This was created by
Amanda and Stacia from Cutesy Clickables by Collaboration
Cuties. Check out our blog: Collaboration Cuties
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