Historical Sources on Westward Expansion

Although British colonist William Bradford once called America "a hideous and desolate wilderness," that type of sentiment did not keep colonists and future Americans from pressing westward to discover new lands, new riches, and new perils. Students will learn about famous and lesser-known explorers who traversed the great expanse. Through a variety of primary-source documents, readers will learn how the expansion affected not only the establishment of the country but international relationships and indigenous populations. Students gain a fuller understanding of the costs and benefits of Manifest Destiny.