Have you ever wondered how the United States went from the 13th original colonies to a country that spans from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean?
In our second unit of distance learning, we are exploring the main events in the 19th century that contributed to Westward Expansion from the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1803-1806) through to the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad (1876). We’ve learned about important figures like Sacagawea and Thomas Jefferson, and this week, we are looking at primary sources to understand the Indian Removal policy under Andrew Jackson.
You might recognize Andrew Jackson from the 20 dollar bill. By next week, we hope to understand why some people have been pushing for his image to be replaced. It is projected that in 2028, some 20 dollar bills will look very different. Do you recognize this important historical figure?
The 19th century was full of changes for the United States which was a very young country at the time. By concentrating on a few key moments, we are not only learning about what led to the US looking the way it does today and about the people that contributed to building the country from Presidents and explorers to Chinese immigrants and others who worked on the railroad, but we are essentially learning to think like historians.