What were the key features of America in the 18 th and 19 th Century?
You will need to find or draw an Outline Map of the USA
See me for a large A3 map if needed
Add or draw in or label the following:
13 original states
The area known as the Louisiana Purchase
Mason Dixon Line
The line of the Missouri Compromise of 1820
The Permanent Indian Frontier
The Route of the Oregon Trail
The Route of the Transcontinental railroad
Mississippi River and all of its tributaries (rivers draining into it)
Other important geographical features
New York
New Orleans
Washington
San Francisco
Write a short explanation ( minimum 250 words) of what your map shows. This description should go towards answering the question:
“An understanding of American expansion Westwards in the 19 th Century can only be developed when there is an understanding of the geography North America” How far do you agree?
What will a successful piece of work look like?
 Probably A3 sized or larger.
 Will have detailed labels / descriptions – dates, names
 Will be colourful

Written work will describe / explain how different groups during the 19 th Century overcame the natural barriers, obstacles and environments in North America to survive and become successful.

America before 1803: how did America become the USA?
Why was there an American Revolution and an American War of Independence against the British between
1775 and 1783?
In no more than 250 words, and including relevant pictures or images, explain why colonists in America decided to fight for their independence from Britain
What will a successful piece of work look like?
 Describe at least 10 key events leading to American independence
 Identify at least 5 individuals who were the most important in developing American independence.

Analyse and explain key images / pictures: “In this image we can see that…”
How did America organise its independence?
What type of government did the Constitution of the United States set up by 1789?

Create / find a diagram that shows the relationship between the 3 branches of government in
America – the executive, the legislature and the judiciary.

Define and describe what each of these parts of the American government do and what they are responsible for.

Find and read the American Constitution and the Bill of Rights (first 10 amendments). What did these do at the time.

American History Treasure Hunt
1. What year was the Declaration of Independence?
2. 1783 Treaty of Paris – what did it do?
3. In what year did the American Constitution become law?
4. Who was the very first American President?
51. Why was Texas a significant state?
52. When did James Polk become President?
53. When was the Oregon treaty signed with the British?
54. What was manifest destiny?
5. What was the Bill of Rights?
6. What is the correct name for the American government?
55. What was the Oregon trail?
56. What did the treaty of Guadelupe-Hidalgo end?
7. What are the 2 ‘houses ‘of the American government called? 57. What was significant about it?
8. What did the Federalists believe in? 58. How many dollars were involved?
9. What was the other name for this group?
10. What did the anti-federalists believe in?
11. Who came to ‘lead’ the federalists?
12. What does the Supreme Court do?
13. When was the Louisiana Purchase?
59. What land did the U.S. get?
60. When was the Gadsden purchase?
61. What was purchased?
62. How much?
63. Why was the land needed?
14. What was the original idea of the Louisiana Purchase?
15. Purchased from whom?
16. How much did it cost?
17. Roughly how many square miles of land did it add to the
U.S.?
18. Who led an expedition to the Pacific North west?
64. When did the federal government start construction of the
Cumberland Road?
65. From where to where?
66. How long was it?
67. When was the Pony Express started?
68. How long did it last
19. What were they looking for?
20. Who sent them?
21. How many states were there in the original Union?
22. What is the greatest river in the US called?
23. What was the great American Desert?
24. How long was Jefferson president for?
25. Who was Tecumseh?
26. What did he want to try and do?
27. What was his brother’s name? Why was he important?
28. What was the Treaty of Fort Wayne 1809?
69. Why did it not last very long?
70. Transcontinental mail service started in in 1857 – from where to where?
71. When was first transcontinental telegraph established?
72. When did the first steamboat start trading?
73. On what river?
74. First pacific Railroad act when?
75. What did it do?
76. In what year did the railroad connect east to west?
77. Who was Horace Greely?
78. Why was he important?
29. Who burned down the town of Tippecanoe/Prophetstown? 79. When was the Mormon church founded/started?
30. What happened to Tecumseh? 80. Why were Mormons disliked?
31. How long did the war of 1812 last?
32. Why did the US go to war in 1812
33. From where did the British launch attacks
34. With what Treaty did the war end?
35. The war carried on with the battle of New Orleans – who won?
81. When was Joseph Smith killed?
82. When was the journey to Salt Lake made?
83. Who led the Mormons in this journey?
84. When was gold discovered in California?
85. What were mining towns like?
36. Who commanded US troops?
37. The Seminole wars were roughly from 1818-1819 – aim of
86. When did the cattle industry roughly start?
87. Why did it develop? the wars?
38. Who did the US fight against in the war of 1819?
39. What was the problem with Florida?
40. . Who won?
89. Where were cattle driven from and to?
90. What was Abilene and why important?
91. When was barbed wire invented?
41. What was the name of the Treaty that decided its outcome? 92. Why was the cattle industry so short lived?
42. What did this Treaty do?
43. When was Florida ceded to the U.S?
44. What was the treaty of Payne’s landing 1832?
45. Who were the 5 civilised tribes?
46. When did Andrew Jackson become President?
47. When was the Indian removal Act passed?
48. Which tribe was removed in the ‘Trail of Tears’ and when?
49. From where to where?
50. When did Texas become independent from Mexico
93. What did the Homestead Act do?
94. When passed?
95. How many settlers claimed land because of this act?
96. What was the Desert Land Act?
97. What was the Timber Act
98. What did the Morrill Act encourage?
99. Who was John Deere and why important?
100. What was a Sodbuster?